As a long time practitioner of OS in indigenous communities in Canada, the US and New Zealand, I echo Harrison's comment and your friends comments, Mel. I am often showered with comments like that especially from Elders who resonate deeply with what happens in Open Space. <br>
<br>Now I've been thinking a little about why this is over the years and I have this thought to share. When I say "indigenous" I am talking, like you, about indigenous populations in lands that have been colonized usually by Europeans. (Of course Europeans in their own countries are indigenous, and there is something to be said about working with Euro-centric worldviews IN Europe...but that is another conversation...). Generally the colonial experience has the effect in indigenous communities of devaluing traditional ways of knowing. In most indigenous cultures of North America these traditional ways of knowing are based in highly relational contexts. Most indigenous languages on this continent are verb based, as opposed to noun based European languages, and therefore things in tyhe world only make sense if described in relation to other things. This is important, because Open Space works only if there is a field of relationships active. If we remain stuck in our own little independent and isolated silos, Open Space misses the mark. Only by inviting others into relationship does Open Space come alive, and that is a deeply indigensou practice.<br>
<br>Of course with any Open Space meeting, the invitation is the key. If the participants are there, and the conditions are right and the invitation is magic, then the magic appears as it does everywhere. What seems to be different in indigenous communities is this deep familiarity of this way of working in relation to an ever changing context. There is an emergent wholeness within which people can act along with others. Where there is still resonance in traditional communities this becomes a powerful experience. <br>
<br>Of course those of us who are indigenous have experienced various degress of colonization, and there are certainly some people for whom Open Space is a downright scary experience, so let us not generalize that "all Indians are at home in Open Space." Having said that though, I frequently use the expression "practical decolonization" to describe the process and the effect it has on people and communities who leap into the fray.<br>
<br>Lots more reflections on Open Space and lessons from indigensou North America and beyond at my weblog's learning archives, here:<br><br><a href="http://chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/?page_id=1382">http://chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/?page_id=1382</a><br>
<br>Cheers,<br><br>Chris<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 1:06 PM, Harrison Owen <<a href="mailto:hhowen@verizon.net">hhowen@verizon.net</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Mel – The fellow you quoted at the
end has it right, and I wouldn't expect too much change in the role of
tribal elders. They have been doing that a long time, and always in the way of
Open Space, by whatever name. I am reminded of a Navajo chief who came up to me
at the end of an Open Space. He took my hand, smiled and said, "What took
you so long white man? Join the club.</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Harrison</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
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<div style="text-align: center;" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%">
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<p><b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> OSLIST [mailto:<a href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU" target="_blank">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a>]
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Mel Bradbury<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, June 03, 2008 10:01
AM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> <a href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU" target="_blank">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> OST with indigenous
groups</span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></font></p>
</div><div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c">
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU">Hi guys,</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU">I have a question for any of you that have worked with indigenous
groups using OST. </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU">As a bit of background to the question, I have noticed in my work with
indigenous groups in Australia
that the 'group' dynamics – ie. leadership and structure work
quite differently to non-indigenous groups. In a non-indigenous group its quite
easy to tell who are the leaders, who are the juniors, and who are middle
management types just by the way they act. The leaders mostly position
themselves up the front of the 'group', they talk a lot, and give
lots of directions. Of course OST dissolves a lot of that structure, but not
all.</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU">In the indigenous groups I've worked with the leaders, or elders,
behave quite differently. They are the ones that sit right up the back of the
room, in the quietest little corner they can find. They rarely speak and most
people don't even know they were there. An aboriginal guy I've
worked with a bit over the years once told me that they don't tell people
what to do, they wait for people to come and ask them questions and it's
not until the person asks the right question, that they get an answer.</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU">So I am wondering, if OST can make non-indigenous leaders relinquish a
little of their 'command and control' behaviour and let the junior
staff have a bit of a say, does OST dissolve some of that group structure with
indigenous groups. Does it make the elders speak up a little more??????</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU">As an aside, the one experience I've had with OST and indigenous
people was when I facilitated a group of around 40 environmental professionals
which included about 3 or 4 indigenous guys. In the closing circle one of the
aboriginal guys said, "its good to see you fellas using this way of
discussing our issues, our mob have been doing it this way for years"</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU">Cheers Mel.</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;" lang="EN-AU"> </span></font></p>
</div></div></div>
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<a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist" target="_blank">http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist</a></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>CHRIS CORRIGAN<br>Facilitation - Training - Process Design<br>Open Space Technology<br>
<br>Weblog: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot">http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot</a><br>Site: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com">http://www.chriscorrigan.com</a><br><br>Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.<br>
<a href="http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com">http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com</a>
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