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 cor...@interchange.ubc.ca