talking circle/racial issues

[Chris Corrigan]

Similar to Kerry's experience, I did an Open Space Technology event for
local government leaders and local First Nations leadership here in
Vancouver last fall.  It was thought by many that the hot topics would
be things like working on jurisdicational issues and service delivery,
but in fact the participants ended up talking about fundamentally
foundational issues regarding personal relationships.  Several people in
the closing remarked on how they were now seeing others in a different
light (re-spect, to steal some etymology from Birgitt).  What in fact
seemed to be happening was that people began seeing beyond trappings of
power and race to the essential human core of every other participant.

This isn't to say that there wasn't conflict; there was and some of it
was uncomfortably race based.  But I think that the way in which it was
handled by the group spoke a lot about people's capacity to solve these
problems on a person to person scale.  The conflict also had the
beneficial side effect of giving voice to undercurrents so that these
dynamics could be recognized, discussed and wrestled with.  And I think
that people began to appreciate that racial tension (and other forms of
overt and covert conflict) are not black and white issues (so to speak)
but rather rooted in, and layered with, complexity.

When the Dead Moose gets put on the table, people at once recognize both
the source of the smell and the fact that there is a winter's worth of
food staring them in the face.

Chris



kerry napuk wrote:

> Barbera Sliter We used open space for an event on racism and the
> police in Glasgow.  When people in minorities and police from
> different ranks meet, they do begin to listen to each other and
> learn.  So, we had a closing ceremony with police saying things like
> "I thought we had cracked this problem, now I realise we have a long
> way to go,"  "I learned a lot today" and someone from the minorities
> saying "I want to thank the police for being so honest."  The biggrest
> breakthrough was with young people who had a willing audience to hear
> their views.  Get the sides together, let them start talking and close
> with the talking stick passed to everyone. Good luck. Kerry NapukOpen
> Futures LtdEdinburghScotlandwww.openfutures.com

kerry napuk wrote:

> Barbera Sliter We used open space for an event on racism and the
> police in Glasgow.  When people in minorities and police from
> different ranks meet, they do begin to listen to each other and
> learn.  So, we had a closing ceremony with police saying things like
> "I thought we had cracked this problem, now I realise we have a long
> way to go,"  "I learned a lot today" and someone from the minorities
> saying "I want to thank the police for being so honest."  The biggrest
> breakthrough was with young people who had a willing audience to hear
> their views.  Get the sides together, let them start talking and close
> with the talking stick passed to everyone. Good luck. Kerry NapukOpen
> Futures LtdEdinburghScotlandwww.openfutures.com

--
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Consultation - Facilitation
Open Space Technology

http://www.chriscorrigan.com

108-1035 Pacific Street
Vancouver BC
V6E 4G7

Phone: 604.683.3080
Fax: 604.683.3036
corcom at interchange.ubc.ca

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