Key Learnings
Key Learnings
Dr. Vanessa Andreotti of UBC helped us understand how to hold space for difficult conversations. She emphasized that we need to help participants build stamina as we worked our way through challenging topics and complexities. She warned that it is difficult for folks to come to terms with the fact that they may be part of a system that oppresses. We moved slowly and tried not to push participants, only breaching certain topics if there was a willingness in the group to do so.
Along with our conversation club we created a website that participants could refer to for further information and resources. If you do this too, you may want to include a FAQ section somewhere on your website or blog. This can include basic history, resources and information clarifying terminology (i.e. the difference between the words Indigenous, Aboriginal and First Nations). This will allow you to start from the beginning and ensure a shared sense of understanding. It will help folks get comfortable with new terminology and may help create a shared understanding and starting point.
Early on, you will likely find that many participants have encountered stereotypes about Indigenous peoples. Even those who claim not to know much about the topic, may have these ideas more deeply embedded than they realize. We sought to address and dispel these myths early on in our club. We also focused on ensuring that our learners had the background knowledge, language, and understanding to address and confront these myths and stereotypes if they were to encounter them again in their communities.
Creative body movement exercises can seem silly in the best of times, but especially in an online learning environment. Lean into the silliness! It’s necessary. Dr. Andreotti helped us appreciate the importance of being in the body, and not just in the head when you’re exploring these topics. We recommend opening with a movement activity and building time into the lesson to go outside and breathe deeply. It’s surprising what these simple invitations can do for us all.
This advice may at first seem counterintuitive when you’re trying to create a conversation club addressing heavy topics about violent pasts and presents. However, as Dr. Yvonne Poitras-Pratt, Dr. Elisa Lacerda-Vandenborn and Sulyn Bodnaresko, our mentors from the University of Calgary, taught us, humour is a strong pillar of survival and helps equip people and prepare them for difficult conversations. Be creative and courageous. Recognize that everyone is afraid of making a mistake, but not doing anything is the worst thing. You’ll do your best and you’ll make mistakes, but be sure to have fun along the way!
Dr. Yvonne Poitras-Pratt also helped us appreciate that these types of learning experiences often produce beautiful moments of humanity and it’s important to embrace those and help nourish them. She suggested always starting with asking participants, “How are you?” because trust is key in whatever you’re hoping to build. We started from a place of respect and sought to build relationships before emphasizing the responsibility we all have to take action.