Still Working on Frameworks

The Healing Circle

Aboriginal world views reflect an interconnectedness between all living forms and consider each of these forms as sacred. Cycles within nature such as the seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter are a main teacher of Indigenous peoples and form the basis of belief systems. Circles, being inherently non-hierarchical and inclusive, represent respect, equality, continuity and interconnectedness.

Our Responsibility to the Seventh Generation IISDnet

I talked to Jackie this morning on Skype: my sister and advisor. I expressed my continuing frustration with my inability to understand my continual frustration.

She agreed that I needed a framework, something to hang things on.

I explained how I had been trying to figure out the Organizational Structure of my work environment. You know, one of those wonderful diagrams that lets everyone know their place. The thing you hate.. the thing you need.

I figured the council was at the top.. but was the smaller Community Council above, below or beside? Then the Community Development Officer, and then.. I reported to him, but was I above the CDEP manager, or beside? And where did the Housing Officer fit?

I felt uncomfortable placing people in some sort of hierarchy: the implication being that some people are more valuable than others. But, I needed to know. Who do I report to? Who takes the ultimate responsibility?

It was Vas that came to my rescue. We managed to organize something on paper: lots of nice little boxes. Not sure the boss would agree, but I relaxed… for a bit.

Then Jackie reminded me of the First Nation 'Healing Circle'.

How could something so linear, as my hard earned diagram with it's boxes and lines, fit into the circle that I love so much? I am sure it does, but.. there are so many pieces!

People and the community are at the center of the wheel, symbolizing the importance of community identity, history, heritage and culture to successful and sustainable development. The community is of primary importance. Within the community, each person had his or her roles and responsibilities, each of equal value to one another.

A circle begins, if indeed it has a beginning, in the East. And everything about it is embedded in the culture..even the color. East is yellow, as the element is fire. East represents Spring, is about the children, the Eagle Clan and.. Tobacco? More likely about the peace pipe and the relaxing qualities of smoke. But that was all part of old traditions, and the North American Indigenous people have proven themselves flexible and open to change.

The above circle was developed by modern, Canadian, Indigenous people: integrating the old ways with their modern reality.

The East is where we start, with the basics: health and spirituality. Before a person is able to do anything, they require a healthy mind and healthy body. I heard someone once compare it to that video on the plane: "place the oxygen mask first on your own mouth and nose, and only then assist children or others in need of assistance."

And for me.. isn’t that OHS? First Aid? Health and Nutrition. We need to make sure that we are ok before we are able to be of any assistance to those around us.

South is black: the element is Earth: solid and supportive. South is the youth: Sweetgrass, and Summer.

In the circle above, this translates to responsibility.

In Wangkatjunka, responsibility translates to picking up the garbage, caring for our family, our children, our community. It is about taking care of the tools, thinking about the future: preparing our vehicle before taking people out into the desert. Taking responsibility for each other.

The West is red, like the setting sun. It is about the fall, parenthood, setting goals and focusing on objectives. The traditional Canadian animal is the Buffalo: slow, but big and powerful. The smell is sage and the element: life giving water.

It is only after the Spring and the Summer are cared for that we can move on to further training. We can finally set goals and work toward them. We can enjoy the world around us, the sights and smells. In the fall we go back to school, we make a plan and follow our dreams of making our world bigger, our lives richer.

And at the top end, in the wintery North, are the Elders. These are the Bears, ruling over the forest, doing as they please, because they have the wisdom to know what they want, and what is good for the community. The elders are free to look beyond themselves, to the element of wind, blowing them, and their people, in new directions.

It is only after we have taken responsibility for our health, spirituality, family, community, and completed our education, that we are finally mature enough to rise up and have a voice.

And that’s what I think it is all about: providing Indigenous people with the foundation on which to stand. The people of Canada are well on thier way, why shouldn't it work for these first people of Australia too.

It's hard to ‘get off your duff’ when you have no legs.

A Circle.. this is going to take a while. Will keep you posted.