Sharing Circles Summary

“By now I knew: A circle is not just a meeting with the chairs rearranged. A circle is a way of doing things differently than we have become accustomed to. The circle is a return to our original form of community as well as a leap forward to create a new form of community.”

- From the book, Calling the Circle, The First and Future Culture

Sharing circles (adapted from talking circles) are a foundational approach to Indigenous pedagogy-in-action since they provide a model for an activity that encourages dialogue, respect, learning, and social discourse. Often referred to as peacemaking, sharing circles are called to bring people together for open discussion, problem-solving and/or welcome dialogue for decision-making. During the 2022 NNA Annual Community Meeting, the NNA-CO offered both in-person and virtual sharing circles based on the following themes: 

• Strengthening Equity: Arctic Indigenous Communities & the NNA initiative 

• Co-learning and sharing methods across career stages and disciplines within NNA projects

• Between and Beyond NNA Research: The impacts to policy, decision-making and science communication 

Approximately 40 people signed up to participate in various circles. The sharing circles were designed to lay foundations, form synergies, connections and ideas, or ignite and nurture “NNA community-building”. The circles provided informal time to interact with colleagues, negotiate understandings, and make personal and collective meanings to themes. During the final day of the meeting, timing of sessions were cut short to adhere to the scheduled agenda, so some circles were only able to go through one round of confidential sharing. It was intended that during the second round of the circle, members were to share their key takeaways, strategies, frameworks, and opportunities for future learning and action that would be documented in circle notes. A Strengthening Equity circle was able to document notes during the second round utilizing the reflection questions: “How do we plan, organize, and begin or maintain equity-forward momentum? How do we openly discuss and address barriers to equity? What are shared responsibilities to each other as an NNA community?" A summary of a few of their key takeaways is shared below:

• We all have something to contribute.

• Old knowledge is new knowledge.

• There is a growing number of people/researchers who want to do heart-based research.

• We need (required) conversations around white supremacy, Tribal sovereignty, etc. for everyone. Lead by allies. Western science is still harmful/biased.

• Prioritize justice, equity and multiple perspectives. Need to collectively visualize what justice and healing looks like for Arctic communities.

• Prioritize data sovereignty - who does the data belong to + Tribal sovereignty.

• Find space where you can be comfortable in within spaces that are uncomfortable. Also create space to relax.

• Process over products. Create space for truth and reflection.

• Build the NNA annual meeting in a way that support Indigenous leadership and partners.

• Suggestion to have a percentage of the grant budget dedicated toward Indigenous youth and students to learn about research and science.

Sharing Circle Guide

The following background information is from “Talking Circle in the Classroom” by Alaina Winters and “The Circle Way” by Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea. 

What is a “Talking Circle”? 

Talking circles are a foundational approach to Indigenous pedagogy-in-action since they provide a model for an activity that encourages dialogue, respect, learning, and social discourse. Often referred to as peacemaking, talking circles are called to bring people together for open discussion, problem-solving and/or welcome dialogue for decision-making. The nuance of subtle energy created from using this respectful approach to talking with others provides a sense of communion and interconnectedness that is not often present in methods of communicating in science or research spaces that may require practitioners to remove personal values or views. For example, when a community comes together in this space, they are encouraged to be full human beings and partake in courageous acts of sharing that can profoundly impact “community-building”. The circle way also includes being respectfully heard and acknowledged without advice (unless advice or feedback is solicited). The intent is to provide a space for connection and open dialogue around a topic or theme where all participants are open to the process of co-learning and sharing without a personal agenda.  

Talking circles are characterized by using a talking piece which regulates communication. The talking piece is a physical object that is cared for by the facilitator of the talking circle, also known as the “Circle Keeper”, who provides an explanation of the talking piece and its significance. The talking piece is then passed around the circle with each circle member taking a turn to share their views, feelings, or stories - with opportunity to “pass” if you do not wish to share at that moment. There will be an opportunity for the talking piece to go around the circle again. Circle members will be asked to share their views or experiences around a theme, provide reflection, or sit silently with a shared purpose of listening, and finally come together in the end to wrap-up and close the circle. 

Background Materials

Please read “The Circle Way Guidelines” 2-pager prior to joining the circle. 

Circle Agreements

1. Respect the talking piece so the person who has it can convey their full message without interruption. 

2. When you don’t have the talking piece, listen respectfully and reflect upon, consider, and honor the meaning of what others say.

3. You can pass if you need to. Nonverbal communication and silence sometimes say more than words.

4. Mute your cell phone and computer devices so as not to interrupt others. 

5. Speak for yourself and from your own experiences and perspectives. Use “I language” and not generic “people think. . .” or sweeping generalizations, like “students want. . .” language. 

6. Be courageous, honest, and open with your own stories. Speak your truth from your heart and be open to hearing others’ truths. 

7. Listen from the heart, allowing what others say to move you. Bear witness but do not provide advice or argue with others. 

8. Honor what others say with confidentiality and integrity

During the circle, you might feel discomfort and defensiveness - can you step back and examine how you are feeling and why? Can you step outside of your own experience and perhaps look at things another way (bigger picture)? Maybe see that some things are bigger than one person and are not personal? Being mindful of who is in the room and among your circle is important as everyone brings different perspectives, worldviews, knowledge, and values.

Looking Forward

Relational accountability, or being accountable to your relations, involves mutual respect and a common understanding. Whether you are just starting your studies, seeking to form new collaborations and partnerships, or whether you are a researcher with over 20 years of experience working across Arctic spaces - we all engage in the flow of knowledge, research and collaboration within or beyond the NNA community. The annual meeting sharing circles are designed to lay foundations, form synergies, connections and ideas, or ignite and nurture “NNA community-building”. Sharing circles are dedicated time to interact with colleagues, negotiate understandings, and make your own personal and collective meanings.  

We recognize the priority and dedicated time for dialogue, relationship building, and developing a shared understanding, while simultaneously recognizing bringing people together to discuss strategies for taking the next step so that people’s voices are not only heard, but connected through continuous learning or unlearning, and sustained action.  

Themes & Descriptions

Theme 1.1 & 1.2: Strengthening Equity: Arctic Indigenous Communities & the NNA initiative (In-person & Virtual)

Description: In the context of working across boundaries, ways of knowing, or across regions and scales in the Arctic, we invite both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to gather to discuss approaches to strengthening equity across the NNA initiative and in research practice. With consideration to capacity, systematic change, accessibility, and Arctic Indigenous community research fatigue, for example, we invite circle members to share their perspectives and reflections. Members are invited to then discuss how to plan, organize, and begin or maintain equity-forward momentum. How do we openly discuss and address barriers to equity? What are shared responsibilities to each other as an NNA community?

Theme 2.1 & 2.2: Safety in Field & Community Environments (In-person & Virtual)

Description: Fieldwork can be a fun and exciting component of research investigation and collaboration. But when unprepared personnel head out into the field, they can cultivate an unsafe and harmful environment that can have legal implications, undermine professional and educational attainment, damage research integrity, diminish mental or physical health, or cause personal harm. Circle members are invited to share their views, perspectives, and strategies to create an environment that promotes dignity and respect for the individual, cultural safety, Arctic Indigenous community safety, and/or for health and safety in planned fieldwork. Are there structural, institutional, or socio-cultural barriers that impact safety? Can harm or risk be mitigated by adequate planning or training? How do we embrace collaborative science and fieldwork practices with our partners, field teams, and the communities with whom we work?

Theme 3.1 & 3.2: Co-learning and sharing across career stages and disciplines within NNA projects (In-Person & Virtual)

Description:  All backgrounds and career stages, from student to early career professional to community member, to specialized practitioner or subject matter expert, offer unique knowledge, expertise, perspectives, and worldviews. We invite circle members to engage in discussion around mentorship, leadership, student engagement, teaching, professional and career development, or core values; how do these inform your approach to research or how you engage in service? What are strategies for learning, unlearning, or co-learning across career stages? How can we lean in and lift up, enhance belonging, and empower our colleagues, peers, or students through community-building? How do we expand beyond “siloed thinking” and create opportunities for convergence across disciplines or across the NNA initiative?

Theme 4.1 & 4.2: Beyond and between NNA Research: The impacts to policy, decision-making, and science communication (In-Person & Virtual)

Description: So your grant period is coming to an end and your project is wrapping up, now what? Without effective communication, scientific gatekeeping and barriers can exclude the public, Indigenous communities, partners, or stakeholders from understanding results. Without adequate science communication training, the task of explaining science often rests on few professionals who have obtained public relations training to share or raise awareness of your research. To add, science may not be the only source of knowledge used in policy arguments, however, the intersection of science and public policy and decision-making can be a polarizing topic and process. We invite circle members to share their perspectives on applied science, policy, and sustainability approaches for partnership, funding, project management, dissemination of results, and communication. What have you done to sustain your project and partnerships? Are there immediate actions, or realistic short-term and long-term strategies for managing risks and realizing opportunities? Is your research transferable or accessible, and to whom?