Racism and Open Space

Tue Apr 18 14:29:15 PDT 2000

Hello:

So Open Space was initially developed by a white man after spending time
in West Africa
and observing community processes, and is now practiced by First Nations
people like me
who repeatedly get a sense of "bringing it on home" from the Open Spaces
that we do.  I
know of at least four other First Nations OS practitioners in south
western BC, and I'm
about to train another 40.  We have used OST with communities,
organizations,
government, First Nations and corporations.  We have had all kinds of
people
participate.

Sometimes it's about breaking down barriers, sometimes it's about
putting up guards.
Mostly it's about problem solving, working with Spirit and doing great
things.

I have never been in an Open Space where it was only white people in the
circle, so I
don't know what that would be like.  On the other hand, I sometimes have
a hard time
telling who's white and who isn't, which would give me a heart attack if
I cared.  My
own pale countenance is confusing enough to me...

I absolutely, truly and deeply believe that OS is not a racist
construct, or even one
which aligns itself with the institutional stuructures of racism and
oppression (where
is my Althusser???).  It works with structures that are natural,
systemic, equitable,
diffuse, inclusive, circular, non hierarchical, consensual, and
generally difficult to
dominate, control or stifle with an agenda, implicit or otherwise.
Believe me, I've
seen it tried.  I suppose one could open space for the Aryan Nations,
just as easily as
I open it for First Nations, but that doesn't implicate the process.

i appreciate your inquiry, Nancie.  I don't mean to sound filppant, and
you might be new
to the list.  I have been inundating my poor cyber correspondants for
months now about
the way OS is being used with Aboriginal groups here in British
Columbia, during the
course of which other folks have chimed in with similar experiences with
Salish, Cree,
Inuit groups and others.

All it means is this is how I am using OS, and as a bisexual
Ojibway/Irish/Manx person
of colour (although a very light colour), I can assure you that somehow
I'm making a
living at it.  I also do a whole bunch of other stuff, which I share
with people on
other mailing lists.  I don't think that OS is a movement, and so I
don't think that it
can fall prey to the kinds of things you mention that happened to the
feminist
movement.  It's just not a movement...our little list is just a
community of
practitioners with too much time on their hands (!), and out of the 10
or 15 people I
know personally who do Open Space, I'm the only one on the list.

Anyway, keep thinking this stuff through, and I'll continue to share
with you (as I
promised to you off list) the stories of my journey with the Aboriginal
youth I'm about
to emabrk on.  And I'm curious to hear what you learn...

Chris

PS  To Bert:  There is A LOT of racism here in British Columbia directed
at First Nations people and communities.  You would probably be
surprised just how much given how Canada loves to portray itself as a
country of peace, tolerance and diversity (which it also is).  Anyway,
we deal with it, and although it can be frustrating, it doesn't hold us
back for long.  CJC

biver wrote:

> Hi folks!
>
> I'm new to Open Space and have been exploring it as a way to build
> university-community relationships.  This has given me the opportunity and the
> necessity to take a serious look at racism and the way it is affecting us - in terms
> of who has power, how service systems ultimately breed dependency, debilitating
> affects of the criminal justice system, just to name a few things.  I'm also new to
> understanding the construct of institutionalized racism in the US.  So I've been
> thinking about the role Open Space does/could play in all of this.  I can see how
> open space can provide a way out of our racist constructs in that - it breaks down
> power.  Anyone willing to take personal responsibility can have power.  But where
> I'm wondering about the limitations includes that many of the groups that we
> collectively work with are doing open space within their own boxes - that is, Public
> health is still public health talking about how they can do health to poor
> communities rather than inviting those directly affected to participate in the open
> space.  This is clearly a limitation.... not sure what to do with it and what it
> means for open space collectively...
>
> I'm also wondering if there are any people of color out there in open space land
> benefitting from the monetary fruits and labor of open space.  And if not, why not?
> As this has been my year to begin to become more politically and socially aware, I
> can't help but notice that in the United States the environmental movement, the
> spirituality/new age movement, the sustainability movement, and community service
> movement include mostly white people.  Is the Open Space movement the same way?
> This book that I'm reading called Undoing Racism says that until we "undo racism"
> that everything else that we do will be for the benefit of white people.  That was
> obviously true with the women's movement - we should have called it the white
> women's movement.  I am also noticing the community service movement includes a
> majority of white people - incidently doing service mostly for people of color.  Is
> the Open Space movement capable of taking us out of the boxes that we're doing open
> space in - you know what I'm saying??  Can Open Space move the movement beyond
> racism as well as the limiting organizations/business we're working with?
>
> I would be very receptive to some dialogue about this.  Open Space and Racism seem
> to be the focal points of my research that I'm wrapping up and can't help but
> question things....  And it seems like an important thing to question...
>
> Nancie T. Biver
> National Service Fellow
> America's Promise and Higher Education
> nbiver at mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
> www.tulane.edu/~amerprom
> 504-862-8000 x1538
> New Orleans, LA
>
> "There are those who see the world as it is and ask, Why?  And there are those who
> see the world as it could be and ask, Why not?"  -George Bernard Shaw

--
CHRIS CORRIGAN
108-1035 Pacific Street
Vancouver BC
V6E 4G7

Phone: 604.683.3080
Fax: 604.683.3036

(GO LEAFS GO!)

>From  Tue Apr 18 15:23:35 2000
Message-Id: <TUE.18.APR.2000.152335.0700.>
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 15:23:35 -0700
Reply-To: bjpeters at amug.org
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: BJ Peters <bjpeters at amug.org>
Subject: Re: New OS poetry contest
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Thanks, Chris, for initiating this. It's fun!

Metamorphosis

You enter the circle
with eyebrow cocked slightly -
the self-assured look saying ...
"Show me, show me..."

You meet my gaze,
curious, as I walk
the circle and open
our space for being...

You smile at the
Law and the Principles
and jump first, artfully
introducing your passionate topic.

You say your truth.
You listen to others.
You initiate action teams.
You leave saying "wow"...

In harmony --BJ

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