<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>
<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" link="#0000EE" vlink="#CC99FF" alink="#33CCFF">
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.
<p>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.
<p>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.
<p>Chris
<br>
<br>
<p>kerry napuk wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><style type="text/css"><!--
blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li { margin-top: 0 ; margin-bottom: 0 }
--></style>
<font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>Barbera
Sliter</font></font></font> <font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>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.</font></font></font> <font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>Good
luck.</font></font></font> <font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>Kerry
Napuk</font></font></font><font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>Open
Futures Ltd</font></font></font><font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>Edinburgh</font></font></font><font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>Scotland</font></font></font><font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>www.openfutures.com</font></font></font></blockquote>
<p>kerry napuk wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><style type="text/css"><!--
blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li { margin-top: 0 ; margin-bottom: 0 }
--></style>
<font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>Barbera
Sliter</font></font></font> <font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>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.</font></font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>Good luck.</font></font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font color="#004080"><font size=-1>Kerry NapukOpen
Futures LtdEdinburghScotlandwww.openfutures.com</font></font></font></blockquote>
--
<br>CHRIS CORRIGAN
<br>Consultation - Facilitation
<br>Open Space Technology
<p><A HREF="http://www.chriscorrigan.com">http://www.chriscorrigan.com</A>
<p>108-1035 Pacific Street
<br>Vancouver BC
<br>V6E 4G7
<p>Phone: 604.683.3080
<br>Fax: 604.683.3036
<br>corcom@interchange.ubc.ca
<br>
</body>
</html>