OS and conflict resolution

[Chris Corrigan]

Hi again:

I am looking for stories of how OS has been used for conflict resolution
situations in communities (sounds redundant, I know).  I am working with
a First Nation in British Columbia who is currently involved in a highly
visible road blockade over a land dispute.  We have offered OS to them
and they have taken up the offer in two stages.  They first of all want
to do a community OS to explore land use issues facing the First Nation,
and then they will considering offering the process to government, local
non-Aboriginal people and others who have been affected by the current
blockade to generate solutions to resolving the conflict.

I am meeting with the First Nation next week to see if the process will
even make sense for them at this stage.  I have to decide if they are in
a resolution mode yet, or whether they're enjoying the media spotlight
still, and therefore invested in seeing this thing continue like this
for a while.  I suspect we're in or getting near the former.
Negotiations have broken off, but it seems like the community really
wants to solve this thing now.

Any thoughts about this?  Any stories to share?

Chris

Have a good long weekend, Canucks!

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

Phone: 604.683.3080
Fax: 604.683.3036