Love this thread ... ❤️🌸❤️ ~ luch
On Mon, May 21, 2018 at 6:01 AM R Chaffe via OSList < oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: Brendon, we live and work in a land where water is precious. Billabongs > are often the life saving watering points when we travel much like an oasis > in the desert. > > Billabongs are also parts of prior streams where the stream has taken a > new track and the billabong is cut off from surface flows of water yet they > are fed and nourished by underground water that seeps across the flood > plane even when the surface stream is non existent. Billabongs reminds me > of the deep threads that are part of a community that sustain it in the > hard times. The billabong is the evidence that this deep nourishment > exists. > > Some of these concepts are very familiar with Australians in the > subconscious. It must be fun to see people discover the deeper meanings of > billabong. > > For me I would use the the name as it will connect with peoples experience > after that I would let the participants take billabong where they choose. > As with the “message sticks” that are the indigenous passport and map every > group/tribe had different ways of describing the features of the map so to > can the group do the same. > > Just as in the song “click go the shears” the spirt of the “swagman” > remains in the billabong to be heard now and then! > > Billabong, just another way to have fun and connect with the community of > concern. > > Regards > Rob > > On 21 May 2018, at 1:05 am, Brendan McKeague via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > > Ahhhh, the billabong….thanks of asking. > > The billabong in Australia is a water hole or pond where water is usually > found when the surrounding riverbed or land becomes dry - the last place to > dry up in an otherwise arid landscape - often will have a few trees or > bushes around it. I used to hear Aboriginal people speak of ‘knowing where > the billabongs lay along certain routes or about meetings for initiation > and other business held near certain billabongs. Also in the iconic > Australian song, Waltzing Matilda, there is reference to the ‘swagman' > (traveller/rover/hobo) who ‘camped by a billabong’. The term is well known > and recognised in both Aboriginal and ‘whitefella’ culture. > > In my early days of facilitating Open Space, I began to use the term > billabong as a place of ‘refreshment, relaxation, restoration, reflection, > renewal etc’ where, having introduced the terms butterflies and bees (in > Australia, I prefer the term bee to distinguish from the European > introduced ‘bumble bee’, regarded as a pest and destroying habitats of > native species), I speak about billabong ‘spaces or places’ where you can > go and rest up should you find that you need a break from the main > meeting….maybe you’ve listened enough, talked enough, need some silence, > need to think about an upcoming conversation that you’ve posted….find > yourself a billabong space and refresh your energy. A billabong space is > where you wish to create it…outside under a tree, going for a stroll, > lounging on a beanbag, in a corner of the room or in the bar, anywhere you > feel comfortable to relax…varies according to where the OS meeting is held > - I once had someone tell me they spent 20mins in the toilet as it was the > only ‘billabong’ space they could find! > > I have also had people report that one or two others came and joined them > in their billabong and, guess what, the most wonderful thing happened….! > > Billabongs are created, or not, in the very best of our self-organising > tradition…just as the river meanders along its own course and leaves little > pools of refreshment along the way for those who need it. > > Cheers > Brendan > > > On 20 May 2018, at 5:09 PM, Marai Kiele via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > > What a colourful and vivid story. > Thank you Brendan for taking the time to describe it so richly! > > I got as curious as Jeff about the billabongs (first needed to look up the > word). > Maybe there are a space where special flowers and animals can flourish? > Please fill us in :-) > > Marai > > Am 18.05.2018 um 09:54 schrieb Jeff Aitken via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>: > > Thank you. Very rich. Lots to appreciate here. > > One initial question stands out: how do billabongs act in open space? > > (We know about the butterflies and bees.) With thanks > > Jeff > San Francisco > > > On Fri, May 18, 2018, 12:38 AM Brendan McKeague via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > >> >> Hi folks >> >> Here is a story (Irish style) of a recent Open Space meeting 'in >> disguise'. I hope it adds something to our ongoing learning and collective >> wisdom. >> >> Cheers >> Brendan >> >> >> *Open Space as Yarning Space - an Australian story* >> >> *Context* >> A group of five different ‘language/family groups’ wishing to pursue >> their intention of working together to submit a claim for native title over >> a certain area of land that their families had continuous connection with >> for many years. There was a history of disagreement, division and >> destructive conflict between some of the group during the past 10 years, >> illustrated by separate, competing claims over parts of the area in >> question. They had arrived at a place where most of the elders had decided >> it was time to work together otherwise their chances of achieving a >> successful claim in the national Native Title Court would be unlikely. In >> order to prepare themselves for the next steps in submitting a formal legal >> claim over the region, they suggested it would be appropriate to spend a >> couple of days together so that ‘they could sit and yarn' about the issues >> that divided them in the past, about how they might reconcile with each >> other and how they might work together in the future. The sponsor, a >> representative of the regional Land Council that would be responsible for >> resourcing the meeting, wondered if an Open Space style meeting would be >> appropriate. >> >> >> *Naming the Process* >> Another part of the context was that the sponsoring body did not have a >> favourable disposition towards Open Space. I’m not sure of the details, >> although it sounded like someone in senior management had previously >> experienced some sort of Open Space meeting and wasn’t impressed. My >> contact within the system asked that we not call it an Open Space meeting. >> I was happy to oblige and we came up with the loosely described notion of >> creating Yarning Circles ('yarning circle' is frequently used in indigenous >> vocabulary in Australia to describe a group, often referred to as 'a mob’, >> sitting in a circle discussing/having a yarn about whatever mattered to >> them. So the underlying concept was similar, without the structure of an >> OST meeting). >> >> From an introductory meeting with the family leaders, we formulated an >> invitation that asked the questions: ‘how will we work together AND respect >> our individual differences and identities?’ >> >> In describing the process, I simply renamed the main circle as the group >> Yarning Circle, and the break-out spaces as Yarning Places…everything else >> pretty much the usual set-up. I shortened the principles on the posters to >> read: Right People; Right Time; Right Place; Right Yarning…the Law of Two >> Feet; Butterflies, Bees and Billabongs; Be Prepared to Be Surprised…and >> linked my introduction to each of these. >> >> >> *The Event* >> There was a lot of anticipation about what might happen. The complexity >> of longstanding inter-familial, inter-generational disputes is well known >> in the world of native title in Australia. Security guards were hired for >> the meeting so that only those who were entitled to be there (another >> interpretation of 'the right people') were admitted. This was to do with >> the requirement that only those who are directly descended from the >> original ‘traditional owners’ of the particular areas are entitled to be >> part of the discussions and eventual decision-making process. There are >> strict protocols around anthropologist 'connection research’ to ensure that >> this is the case and these reports often generate additional conflicts >> among family groups. >> >> On the first morning of the two-day event, while people were beginning to >> gather in the meeting space, there was a very animated and highly charged >> interaction between two rather large men (I subsequently discovered these >> were two brothers who had not spoken directly to each other for nearly ten >> years) and this generated a burst of high tension energy. A security guard >> intervened, in a very professional, low-key way, creating a pause between >> the men and providing an opportunity for some of their mutual relatives >> (mostly the older women) to exert a calming influence on them…fortunately, >> they seemed to be well practiced at such interventions! >> >> I was certainly wide awake now! Too soon for a nap…and I wondered, >> rather nervously, how the rest of the meeting might go >> >> The men calmed, the senior elder (one of the women) gave a ‘welcome to >> country’ asking that everyone in the room (about 60 participants) respect >> the ancestors, and each other, during this very important time together. I >> was then invited into the circle…I did my usual intro, with slight >> variations of language, verbal and body, to adapt to my environment. A the >> end of my introduction, as I usually do, I wished them well for the work of >> the day, handed the space over to them and exited the circle…. >> >> As I was heading towards the edge of the meeting area, I noticed a couple >> of people dive straight in the centre for their paper and pen…and to my >> surprise, the first topic announced was from one of the family members of >> the feuding brothers who invited the whole family to meet in the first >> session to sort out the issues that had been dividing them for the past >> decade. And it was an amazing ‘yarning place’…for much of an hour, there >> were loud voices, quiet voices, shouting, tears, hugs, reconciliation, >> laughter, resolve and agreement to disagree on what had caused their >> disturbances and, beyond that, agreement to work together in the future so >> that they could contribute constructively to the collective claim for >> Native Title….amazing to witness. >> >> For the remainder of the first day, people wandered, sat, stood and >> lounged around the room, energy and passion flitting and flowing in their >> own time, with differing degrees of high intensity, laughter and lightness. >> >> And for good measure, we also had a ‘space invasion’ in the afternoon, >> when another group that had been seeking to prevent this combined claim >> going ahead, and had convened a separate meeting in another part of the >> conference venue, entered the space uninvited. Some of the leaders in the >> room stood up and started towards the exit saying they would not stay while >> this new group was there. In the pause of surprise and wonder, I could only >> think of asking a question: ‘I don’t really know what’s happening here, >> would someone please explain?’ That led to the incoming group, some of >> whom were related to the meeting group, requesting to read out a short >> prepared statement to the meeting group and then to leave. The meeting >> group agreed to listen. The statement was delivered, there was silence and >> no return comments, the incoming group left the room and the existing group >> spent the rest of the afternoon discussing how they would respond to the >> information in the statement…a new agenda emerged for Day Two. >> >> The second day of the meeting saw the group working together in the >> Yarning Circle, as an extension of ‘morning news’, for the first part of >> the morning, then breaking out into yarning places in response to new >> issues that were emerging. After a stretched-out lunch, the group converged >> to feed back the Action Plans before a very emotional, enthusiastic and >> energised closing circle (that included a short impromptu dance of >> celebration…) >> >> >> *The Outcome* >> On the next day, following the two day Yarning Circle, there was a formal >> meeting with their legal representatives to ratify agreements made and >> provide instructions to be taken forward into the due process for native >> title claimants. Needless to say, this meeting was nothing like an Open >> Space meeting. However, the group on the previous afternoon had decided how >> they wanted the room to be set up for the formal meeting and, guess what, >> they chose to have five different circles for each of the five family >> groups and one centre circle for the elders from each group to enter when >> it came to delivering decisions to the legal representatives…creating a >> very different environment from the usual 'top table and rows'. That’s >> another story! >> >> >> *Concluding Reflections* >> A few thoughts: the presenting context seemed suitable for Open Space; >> the meeting methodology was renamed, the underlying structure was retained; >> the conflictual energy that appeared prior to the meeting provided a >> catalyst for release of built-up tension and the courage to address what >> had caused it by those who lived within it; the stunning significance of >> self organisation at work, developing resilience to cope with a potential >> distracting/de-railing invasion; the use of the opportunity (the space >> invasion) to generate new agenda, to strategise and commit for the >> follow-up formal legal meeting (a complex adaptive system at work?); the >> presenting signs of relationship building, collective commitment and deeper >> levels of trust. >> >> >> *Sponsor feedback * >> >> *1) Why did you chose to use Open Space?* >> >> *We held a two day OS community consultation followed by a native title >> authorisation meeting. * >> *For the community consultation we needed an approach that allowed for a >> general theme, linked to progressing a native title claim, that allowed for >> the native title group to work out for themselves the best way to work >> together on a native title claim and beyond. OS provided the environment >> for this to occur. * >> >> >> *2) What did you notice about the process, the engagement and the >> outcomes in this particular context?* >> >> *The OS approach to the meeting allowed for the attendees to take >> ownership of the direction of the two day meeting and, as a result, the >> outcomes/undertakings that were generated. In turn, the outcomes provided >> a roadmap for how the different traditional factions within the larger >> native title group could effectively cooperate while acknowledging and >> respecting differences. The outcomes will feed into the rule book and >> policy manual for the corporation earmarked to be the PBC. * >> *We used some OS concepts to good effect in the authorisation meeting. * >> >> >> *3) What did you learn from this experience?* >> >> *That our clients can truly benefit from an OS meeting and that certain >> elements of OS can be introduced even into meetings with an agenda >> prescribed by legislation. * >> *I am convinced that an OS meeting should be convened early in the >> process of working with a native title group, particularly if there are >> internal divisions. * >> *If used properly, I consider OS could also be useful in some overlapping >> claims. * >> >> >> >> Who knows what will happen next…indeed, that's not ours to know in the >> complex and mysterious world of emergence! >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> Past archives can be viewed here: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
_______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org