Diversity and disability in Open Space

[Chris Corrigan]

I can't add too much to the Elder's comments.  Some people feel that way about
using First Nations traditions, others feel that way about the bells or
Harrison's hat (if the comments from his YWCA OS are any thing to go by!).

My thoughts are as follows: I think it is important to use a certain amount of
discretion and tact in handling tools and materials that are "borrowed" from
Aboriginal culture, especially if one has a limited understanding of those
tools, and especially if traditional people are likely to be in attendance.  I
personally don't use a "talking stick" or even refer to one here on the west
coast (the home of talking sticks) because talking sticks are used in ceremonies
here and have a particular role to play.  Many Aboriginal organizations DO use
them in their deliberations, but as my ancestry is Ojibway, and not coastal, I
tend to shy away from using coastal objects.  I have thought of using an eagle
feather, but that would be more appropriate east of here.

It is important to be sensitive about drawing on First Nations cultural models
and tools because these things have been appropriated and sold over the years,
and several in the community, myself included, consider that unethical.  Search
the Web and you'll find sweat lodge ceremonies, sage sticks, medicine wheel
tarot cards, sweetgrass and many many other things for sale.  Traditionally
these things are not sold, and in many cases, there are traditional propritary
rights associated with ceremonies, musical instruments, designs and medicines.

I always describe Open Space as a process that is fundamentally the same as our
traditional modes of meeting, deciding and acting.  It runs on rather deep
seated and natural principles that tend to both transcend and incorporate
individual cultures and are more rooted in basic biology, physics and ecology.
My own practice is within the First Nations community, and I am First Nations,
so I talk about it from that perspective.  However, I do talk about it
differently if I am working with another group, and I look for other models and
metaphors more rooted in the culture of the organization, group or community.
I'm not always comfortable doing that, especially if the other culture is not
familiar to me.  I appreciate that this is tricky issue for non-Aboriginal
facilitators, but perhaps it helps understanding why some people feel that way.
The bottom line, I think, is how you approach using the tools. Be yourself, be
honest and be authentic and good things will happen.  For what's it's worth,
having a good heart really does matter, which is why I suspect the Elder was
understanding.  If you really were exploiting this technology for commercial
gain or whatever, you would have got a much harder time, especially from the
Elder.

My concluding thought would be that when we use the tools like the talking stick
and the medicine wheel, we should keep in mind that these things are
representations.  The talking stick is a tool that honours the circle, shares
power and authority amongst all speakers and reminds people of respect.  The
medicine wheel is one form of a very old and widespread way of looking at the
world and has correlations in alomst all traditional cultures.  Both of these
things are useful anchors, and both can be replaced by other appropriate
representations.  It doesn't change the content, message or magic of Open Space.

Those are my two cents...there's probably alot more to be said.

Chris

Michelle Cooper wrote:

<snip>

> Aboriginal women were strongly represented at this conference.  One of the
> women had done concurrent sessions on the day prior to the open space where
> the concept of healing circles had been discussed and the talking stick used
> in the session.  The deaf-blind woman had found that session great, because
> only one person spoke at a time!! I had been asked to do a brief
> introduction to open space at the conference opening (as difficult as it is
> to talk about rather than do).  A participant shared with me that the next
> day that one of the aboriginal women commented negatively about the notion
> of "stealing cultural traditions" and then marketing them.  I had neglected
> to say that OST was not copyrighted or trademarked, even though I had
> acknowledged that Harrison had drawn from many cultures and traditions as he
> developed the process. The concerns did not emerge again as we actually did
> the open space part of the meeting.  I did overhear discussion between one
> elder and another participant discussing this comment.  She simply said that
> some people feel this way.  Any thoughts Chris?
>

<snip>

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

Phone: 604.683.3080
Fax: 604.683-3036