The Talking Circle #2

This is a safe space for Indigenous Communities to have conversations focused on healing from an Indigenous and cultural lens. This safe space is open to both men, women, and 2Spirit relatives, we welcome all. This space is facilitated by Indigenous Master Social Work interns Kelly Sims and Lyle Daychild, supervised by Roicia Banks, MSW. If The Talking Circle interests you, we invite you to participate FREE of cost and FREE of judgment. We welcome all people to participate at their comfort level via the ZOOM platform.

1. Opening

2. Introduction of Talking Piece

3. Check-In

4. Guidelines / Values

5. Discussion Rounds

6. Check out

7. Closing

1. Opening

•Purpose: to create a special or sacred space where everyone will come together to share in ways we ordinarily don’t have the opportunity to do. Also, to ground everyone, set a positive tone for participants to transition into the circle process. An opening purpose is for everyone to bring their ‘best selves” to the Circles.

•Examples of an opening: poems, quotes, guided meditation or breathing exercise, song, chant, etc.

•Suggested opening language: We have come together today to learn more about one another and to be together in a way that will make our school community (or our class or group) stronger, closer, and safer.

2. Introduction of Talking Piece

• Purpose: to create an equitable environment for sharing. Everyone gets a chance to speak or has the right to pass. For those that do not have the talking piece, it is an opportunity to actively listen to the speaker. Sometimes the talking piece may be suspended to encourage spontaneous sharing or brainstorming.

• Example of a talking piece: Sacred or meaningful objects that community members can relate to or something that has meaning to someone or is relevant to the topic to be discussed. (Stuffed animal, rock, stone, etc.)

• Suggested welcome language: The person holding the talking piece is the only one who may speak. Everyone else in the circle is actively listening and trying not to spend time thinking about what they are going to say. The talking piece usually moves in a circular format (clockwise or counterclockwise). Every person has the opportunity to speak and the right to pass if they choose. Even though someone may pass, they must still be present and participate.

3. Check-In

• Purpose: to invite participants to talk about how they are feeling on physical, mental, or emotional levels at the moment.

• Suggested check in language: Q: Name one word describing how you are feeling. If you could be a weather pattern, what pattern would describe how you are feeling right now (today)?

4. Guidelines

• Purpose: to allow Circle participants to identify and agree upon shared guidelines for the circle. • Core circle guidelines: (1) Respect the talking piece, (2) Speak from your heart, (3) Listen with your heart, (4) Speak with respect, (5) Listen with respect, (6) Remain in the circle, (7) Honor Privacy

• Suggested guideline language: Here are the core circle guidelines (review 1-7). Are there any other guidelines you would like to add? Pass the talking piece around the circle and chart any other guidelines.

4.1. Values: the purpose of this activity is to allow Circle participants to identify and agree upon personal and shared group values which everyone will honor during the circle. (Note: The traditional way is to ask people to bring their “best selves” to the discussion. Values we adopt remind us how to ‘be’ in Circle. Values are the foundation for doing things in a “good” way. Respect, honesty, trustworthiness, and courage, are examples of such values. When explaining values to children you may say “something that is important to you, your family, or your culture”. You may also have them draw a picture)

5. Discussion Rounds

• Purpose: choose a topic that is appropriate for the group to discuss. If this is a new group and you are just getting to know each other, you may ask people to share what is important to them about being in this community.

• A good prompting question for a circle will allow people to speak from a personal perspective about something that relates to the group. After asking a question that allows  people to tell a story, you may ask a question that encourages people to speak about the  issue or reason they were brought into the circle today (community building, celebration,  general check-in, current event, etc.) Refer to the different types of Restorative Circles –  Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3.

6. Check out

Purpose: To invite participants to express how they are feeling at this moment as the circle is about to end.

Suggested check-out language: Share one word about how they are feeling at the end of the Circle or about what they most appreciated about the process.

7. Closing

Purpose: To close the circle with intention and allow participants to re-enter the world and acknowledge the work done in the circle.