<html><div>At 01:29 PM 1/31/99 -0800, you wrote:</div>
<div>>A conversation for anyone interested in responding. I
would appreciate </div>
<div>>knowing:</div>
<div>></div>
<div>>What is the origin of the "talking stick?" How have
people used it in a Open</div>
<div>>Space meetings?</div>
<div>></div>
<div>></div>
<div>>Don Ferretti</div>
<div>></div>
<div>>______________________________ Reply Separator </div>
<div>Never having done the field anthropology I can't swear that the
Talking stick originated with Native Americans, but I am sure that every
tribal group I have even encountered on the North American Continent
seems to have some varient of the tradition. I don't recall the Eskimos
in Alaska using a talking stick, but the Inuits in Canada clearly do, and
if I remember correctly, there is a relationship. Although as I think
about it, that relationship may be with the Athabascans and the Eskimos
are their own thing. However, when you get into the SouthWest (Hoppi,
Navaho, Utes, etc.) lots of talking sticks. It seems also to be true with
the southern tribes like Seminoles, but I can't say that from personel
experieince.. I have a truly fine one made by a Southern Ute lady after
we had done an Open Space with their tribal council and some Anglos. It
was truly fun watching the Chiefs smile while the Anglos squirmed when we
started in the circle. The rules are real simple in any area I have been
in. If you hold, the stick you talk with respect. If you don't hold the
stick, you listen with respect. The role of the chief is to hold the
space while it all goes on. The use in Open Space pretty much follows the
tradition. I find it particularly useful at Evening News, and certainly
at the close. </div>
<div>_________________________________</div>
<br>
<x-html><center>Harrison Owen <BR>
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