Mending the Circle: Community Dialogues

a toolkit to foster conversation and new relationships for our shared future

Why Film and Dialogue?

Film and Discussion Nights are community get-togethers with the goal of relationship building between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Peoples in Alberta. Relationships built in communities can have an impact on both the short and long term an impact that moves toward the empowerment of people and respect for the dignity of all. The film is intended to spark a discussion that will foster the recognition of a shared history and will foster understanding in your community. Such discussions can help you work towards establishing deepened relationships between Aboriginal and nonAboriginal Peoples. Communities can be strengthened and engaged toward developing greater mutual respect and trust through these discussions. The John Humphrey Centre has developed toolkits with suggested discussion questions for several films from which you can choose to host your Film and Discussion Night. Though the films vary in length and focus, they all deal with an aspect of Aboriginal life in Canada (e.g., Aboriginal law, land claims, and missing Aboriginal women). This common theme was chosen to generate discussions grounded in an understanding of the history of injustices that Aboriginal communities in Canada have faced; a history that we, as Canadians Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike all share. In order to address the legacy of this history, we must work together to create shared memories for our shared futures. The films will evoke different memories and thoughts for different people. Memories are a part of both our individual and collective stories. When we take time to share aspects about ourselves or about our histories, we create space for the deepening of

relationships, of trust, and of understanding. In traditional environments, storytelling and sharing memories were used for many reasons to teach values, beliefs, morals, history, and life skills. Today, sharing memories together gives us the opportunity to not only learn more about one another, but also to understand our similarities and differences and thus develop respect and dignity for each other. Film and Discussion Nights are part of the Circle Alberta Initiative of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights. This initiative aims to facilitate dialogue that will foster communities of trust and respect between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Peoples in Alberta, in order to motivate collective change and a realization of human rights. The Film and Discussion Nights represent one of three levels of engagement in the initiative, which also includes Potluck Dialogues, to facilitate dialogue at the individual level and the Circle Alberta Retreat, to facilitate dialogue at the provincial level. For more information on the initiative, please visit www.jhcentre.org, https://www.facebook.com/jhcentre or email us at info@jhcentre.org. There, you will find hosting toolkits for the Film and Discussion Nights as well as more information on the Provincial Gathering.

Thank you to the support of the Alberta Human Rights Education Fund for their ongoing support to Circle Alberta.

Who can participate in Film and Discussion Nights?

Typically, it is suggested that you advertise your Film and Discussion Night widely so as to reach as many interested people in your community as possible. It is also a good idea to ask people to RSVP. Often, discussions are more productive and allow for greater opportunity to participate when they take place within a smaller group. So, we suggest that you limit participation to 1015 people. However, the number of participants will also depend on the space in which you host your evening. We suggest that you hold your event with a minimum of 10 people. If the group consists of less than 10 participants, you may want to consider hosting a Potluck Dialogue instead. To request the dinner hosting toolkit, email us at info@jhcentre.org.

What is expected of the Host?

As the host, you are responsible for identifying volunteers to assist you with facilitating the discussion. We also encourage you to co-host your Film and Discussion Night with a colleague or a friend with whom you feel comfortable sharing the responsibilities of organizing your event and of facilitating the discussion. Depending on the location and timing, a volunteer from the John Humphrey Centre may be available to assist you in co-hosting! As a host you will need to do the following: (please see the check list provided at the end of this document)
1. Working with your co-host or on your own, create an

What can you expect as a Host?

Film and Discussion Nights are meant to be fun and informative. As a host you can expect that those who choose to participate are interested in learning about the topic of focus in the film and sharing in conversation with others.

invitation to your Film and Discussion Night that you can email widely to your networks so that a diversity of people in the community might participate. An invitation template is available from the John Humphrey Centre. You may also want to print hard copies of your invitations so that you can post them in public spaces in your community.
2. Your invitation should include the time, date and location of

the event, as well as a brief summary of the film you have chosen. A list of recommended films and summaries can be requested from the John Humphrey Centre as well. The time allotted to your Film and Discussion Night will depend on the length of the film. We suggest allotting 510 minutes for an introduction and icebreaker, a minimum of 45 minutes for discussion, and 510 minutes

for a wrap-up and conclusion. For example, for a 45 minute film, we suggest that you allot about 2 hours for your event.
3. In the email and/or poster invitations, ask participants to

5. Enjoy the evening! We have developed a Timeline for you

to follow to help you through the evening (see below).

6. At the end of the evening, thank your guests for coming

RSVP if they are able to attend no later than one week before the event. We suggest sending a reminder email two days before the event to confirm attendance.
4. Discuss with your co-host what role each of you will play

during the event. We would suggest having one person responsible for introducing the timeline and format of the evening, and one person responsible for equipment set-up and getting the movie ready to play. During the discussion portion of the event, we suggest having one person responsible for facilitating the discussion and one person responsible for taking notes on the content and direction of the discussion. These notes will become important for you if you choose to submit your reflections on your experience as a host back to the John Humphrey Centre (see item 7 below for further details). We recommend that you let participants know that you are taking notes of the conversation for your reflection, which will later be posted on a public site. Ensure them that everything will remain anonymous and that no personal identifying information will be shared. You may also want to ask your participants if they object to having you record their individual comments, as well as give them the choice to make that decision before or after the discussion in private.

and hand them each a comment card as well as a take away card provided by the John Humphrey Centre. These will allow guests to provide feedback, offer to host a Film and Discussion Night or a Potluck Dialogue themselves, or just to stay in touch. You may also want to give each participant a copy of the hosting guidelines for the Film and Discussion Nights and/or the Potluck Dialogues as encouragement for them to participate in this initiative.
7. Once everyone has left, be sure to take a few minutes to

debrief with your co-host, take a few notes and to share any thoughts you have with the John Humphrey Centre. We encourage you to submit a short reflection of your experience in either written, audio or video format to info@jhcentre.org. If you would like your post to remain anonymous please make that indication in your email. Improvement of processes or plans only comes through feedback!

What is the evenings timeline?

As a guideline, we suggest the following general timeline: ! Welcome guests and introduction This is when you, as host, have the opportunity to give an overview of the format of the Film and Discussion Night, its purpose, and to answer any questions. At this point, you can provide a brief summary of the film as well as take care of any housekeeping information (e.g., inform participants where the bathrooms are located). Ice breaker activity We recommend beginning with an icebreaker as it is a good way to establish comfort amongst participants, particularly when they do not know each other. Possible icebreaker activities include: WHATS IN A NAME? Ask people to introduce themselves and ask them to tell the story of their name. Where did it come from? Does it mean anything specific? SIMPLE INTRODUCTIONS: Ask people to give their name, why they want to participate in the discussion and what they hope to get out of it. Watching the Film The following films can all be streamed off of either the National Film Board of Canada (http://www.nfb.ca/) or the 5

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation websites (http:// www.cbc.ca/). Tipping Point: The Age of the Oil Sands (2011)
In an oil-scarce world, we know there are sacrifices to be made in the pursuit of energy." What no one expected was that a tiny Native community downriver from Canadas oil sands would reach out to the world, and be heard. Directed by Edmonton filmmakers Tom Radford and Niobe Thompson of Clearwater Media, and hosted by Dr. David Suzuki, this special presentation of The"Nature"of Things"goes behind the headlines to reveal how a groundbreaking new research project triggered a tipping point!for the!Alberta oil sands.

Finding Dawn (2006)

This is an epic journey into the dark heart of Native womens experience in Canada. From Vancouvers skid row, where more than 60 women are missing, we travel to the Highway of Tears in northern British Columbia, and onward to Saskatoon, where the murders and disappearances of Native women remain unresolved. Directed by acclaimed Mtis filmmaker Christine Welsh,"Finding Dawn"illustrates the deep historical, social and economic factors that contribute to the epidemic of violence against Native women in this country. It goes further to present the ultimate message that stopping the violence is everyones responsibility.

Reel Injun: On the Trail of the Hollywood Indian (2009)

Cree film maker Neil Diamond takes an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian, exploring the portrayal of North American Natives through a century of cinema.

Acts of Defiance (1992)

A film account of events preceding and during the summer of 1990 with particular reference to the so-called Mohawk Crisis. The film focuses on the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake but also reflects on Canada at a particular time in its history.

Mikmaq Family (1995)

Mi'kmaq filmmaker and mother, Catherine Anne Martin takes a reflective journey into the extended family of Nova Scotian Mi'kmaq society."

Riel Country (1996)

Riel Country"features young adults from two distinct Winnipeg neighbourhoods, on either side of the Red River as they struggle to overcome geographical and cultural barriers. High school students from the predominantly Aboriginal North End, with the support of their peers from the Francophone district of St. Boniface, work to produce a play on the origins of the Metis a theme that links both groups to Louis Riel's dream of a society in which respect for difference is a founding principle. Discussion

Two Worlds Colliding (2004)

Two Worlds Colliding"chronicles the painful story of what came to be known as Saskatoon's infamous freezing deaths, and the schism between a fearful, mistrustful Aboriginal community and a police force that must come to terms with a shocking secret.

CBQM (2009)
Home to some eight hundred souls, mostly Teetlit Gwichin, Fort McPhersons unique spirit finds vital expression on CBQM radio, where respected elders share the mic with raucous fiddlers, and Reverend Sue dispenses philosophy and cookie recipes. Allen documents it all with humour and affection, weaving a richly informative tableau of life in a northern town.

Round Up (2010)
At age 81, Pete Standing Alone has come full-circle in his dedication to preserving the traditional ways of his people. Round Up"traces Pete's personal journey from cultural alienation to pride and belonging. As a spiritual elder, teacher, and community leader of the Blood Indians of Southern Alberta, Pete's efforts to rebuild the cultural and spiritual decimation wrought by residential schools have focused on teaching youth the traditional ways. In his own words: It is our duty and responsibility as Blood Indians to keep our ways going.

You may choose to begin the discussion by simply asking your participants, How do you feel after having watched the film?, or Would anyone like to begin by sharing initial thoughts or reactions to the film? We suggest beginning the discussion by asking participants to form small groups (of 2 or more) and sharing in conversation for 510 minutes. After these small group discussions, you can ask participants to come back to the larger group and share what they spoke about with everyone. Some other questions to help guide the conversation include:
1)

Name one (or more) new things you have learned from watching this film. How might this new learning inform your everyday life? What stood out most for you in this film? Why?

Totem: Return and Renewal (2007)

In his 2003 NFB film"Totem: the Return of the Gpsgolox Pole, filmmaker Gil Cardinal documented the struggle of the Haisla people of British Columbia to recover a traditional mortuary totem pole. Despite great efforts, the Haisla were unable to repatriate the pole from the Swedish museum in Stockholm where it was housed. In 2007, however, the Swedish museum quickly decided to return the pole to its rightful owners. This half-hour documentary follows the events of the final journey of the Gpsgolox Pole as it returns home to Kitamaat and the Haisla people.

2) 3)

Whether you choose to begin your discussion with the questions provided in the toolkit or not, you may always refer to 6

the toolkit during the discussion if you need some ideas to keep the discussion going. You may also want to begin the discussion by referring to the Ground Rules for Discussion (provided below) or by creating a set of ground rules as a group, so that people understand the need to be respectful. Conclusion of the discussion In a circle format (allowing everyone to gather in a circle and share one at a time around the circle), ask participants to share any thoughts/feelings about the discussion. Conclude the discussion by thanking participants for their contributions and noting the importance of having conversations such as these. Hand out the comment cards for participants to fill out, take away cards, and guidelines for hosting Potluck Dialogues and/ or Film and Discussion Nights. All of these materials can be found by contacting the John Humphrey Centre.

Host Evaluation/Reflection Post

After the evening has ended, as hosts, please take the time to reflect on your experience and the dialogue by considering the following questions: How did it go? What worked for the evening? Is there anything that didnt work? What impacted you? What do you think impacted your guests the most? Is there anything you would do differently next time? Your reflections may be submitted to the John Humphrey Centre in either written, audio or video format to info@jhcentre.org. In doing so, we will be able to put your reflection together with other hosts reflections, and later post them on www.jhcentre.org and/or https://www.facebook.com/ jhcentre. Putting these discussions together, and posting them in a public forum will contribute to a larger, province-wide conversation on fostering relationships of mutual respect and trust between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Peoples. Your discussion will also allow others who are committed to this work to engage with your thoughts and ideas and to learn from your experiences. Because your reflections on the evening you hosted will be posted on a public forum, we ask that you do not use names or information that may compromise peoples anonymity. In submitting your reflection, please use the following name format, Film and Discussion Night: [DATE], [FILM NAME], [LOCATION]

Notes on Facilitating Dialogue

Conversations can be difficult, however setting ground rules will help your guests feel comfortable to share their stories, memories, and emotions with each other and to have a deep conversation. Importantly, everyone participating in the conversation needs to understand that to create a safe dialogue space for all, and to be able to participate in openminded conversation, we need to understand that we can only speak from our own experiences and, therefore, must reserve judgement. Setting ground rules together is a good idea because it creates a safe space for a collective experience, dialogue and assures that everyone is on the same page. Some ground rules are provided at the end of this toolkit. A circle dialogue is a discussion group where interested participants get together to talk about a particular topic. Such circles have a deep and sacred place in many cultures around the world and in particular in First Nations cultures in Canada. A circle represents equality and interconnection. Everyone has both a right to speak from personal experience from the heart and a responsibility to listen in a circle.

rescue, nit pick or give advice. Rather, try to understand how the diverse views connect with each other. Pay attention to your listening. Listen for the "voice of the heart" as well as the mind yours and others. Tune into the language, rhythms and sounds. Listen as you would to hear the themes played by various instruments in an orchestra and how they relate to each other. That's what makes the music. In Dialogue, that's what makes the collective meaning. Free yourself up from a rigid mindset. Stand back and respond, rather than reacting automatically or defensively. Balance advocacy (making a statement) with inquiry (seeking clarifications and understanding). In advocating do not impose your opinion, rather simply offer it as such. In inquiry seek clarification and a deeper level of understanding, not the exposure of weakness. Communicate your reasoning process, i.e. talk about your assumptions and how you arrived at what you believe. Seek out the data on which assumptions are based, your own and others. Bring tacit (hidden) assumptions to the surface of consciousness. Suspend, rather than identify with, your judgements. Hold these away from your core self, to be witnessed or observed by yourself and made visible to others. There's no need for questions to be answered right away.""If the question relates directly to someone, they can pick it up when they next take a turn."This differs from usual conversations, but think of questions as inquiries that you're putting into a shared space.

Ground Rules for Discussion

You don't have to agree. Listen with the expectation of learning; that is, assume that the speaker has something new and of value to contribute to your comprehension and then stretch your mind to find out what that is. None of us has the whole truth. Seek to comprehend the many facets of meaning that emerge from the group. Appreciate how the diversity of perceptions enriches the quality of the dialogue. In your responses do not problem solve, argue, analyze,

Organizing Your Film and Discussion Night

24 Weeks Before Questions to consider to help you plan your event: Why are you hosting a Film & Discussion Night? What are your goals for the Discussion? Do you want to host alone or co-host (contact the Centre if you are looking for a co-host)? Once youve committed to hosting a Film & Discussion Night, do the following: Choose a film, date, time and location Watch the film yourself Send your invitations! 1 Week Before Receive RSVPs Test your equipment Discuss with your co-host what role each of you want to play 2 Days Before: Gather Your Materials Comment cards Take away cards Print hosting guidelines for Potluck Dialogues and Film & Discussion Nights for your guests Print out Ground Rules for Dialogue Print out Film Toolkit with discussion questions Test your equipment again Any additional materials you might need Send an email reminder with event details (eg., location, time) After Your Film & Discussion Night Debrief with your co-host immediately after (feel free to take notes) Write or record a reflection for info@jhcentre.org describing your experiences Follow-up with your guests via email to thank them for participating and to invite them to reply to your reflection and share their own thoughts Return the Comment Cards to the John Humphrey Centre Call or email us to tell us how your Film & Discussion Night went