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Hosting Guidelines
Introduction
Potluck Dialogues are part of the Circle Alberta: Creating Shared Memories For Our Shared Futures initiative. This initiative aims to facilitate dialogue that will foster communities of trust and respect between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal People in Alberta in order to motivate collective change and realization of human rights. The Potluck Dialogues piece is one of three levels of engagement which also include Film and Discussion Nights to facilitate dialogue at the community level and a Provincial Gathering of community leaders in November of 2012 to facilitate dialogue at the provincial level. For more information on the initiative, please visit www.jhcentre.org or circlealberta.ning.com.
if one or two members can't make it, there are still enough people left to form a good dialogue. We would suggest no more than twelve guests. Be sure to consider that your guests may have partners that they would like to bring or even children. In this case, as a host, you need to determine what your preference is for each of these. For partners, when you invite your guests you can ask them if they would like to bring their partner to ensure that you can reduce your invites if they choose to do so. For children, it is valuable for children to experience these community building events. Aboriginal traditions normally include children as important contributors to the community. Make the decision on what you can manage and what you prefer, and then discuss this with those you know have children.
4. With your co-host, discuss what role each of you want to play during the event. We would suggest having one person responsible for organizing the food, one for welcoming guests, and perhaps identify another guest to assist with helping spur informal conversations before the formal discussions occur. If you are not co-hosting, perhaps identify two guests who can come early to help you prepare and play these roles. Plan to have your co-host arrive early so you can prepare together and have a short meeting to go over roles and responsibilities. 5. Enjoy the evening! You as the host will play the key facilitation role during the evening. We have developed the processes you can follow below to help you through the evening. 6. At the end of the evening, thank your guests for coming and hand them each a comment card as well as take away card provided by the John Humphrey Centre so they can provide feedback, offer to host a dialogue themselves, or just stay in touch. 7. Once everyone has left, be sure to take a few minutes to debrief with your co-host, take a few notes and feel free to share any thoughts you have with the John Humphrey Centre. We encourage you to contribute a short post of your experience on circlealberta.ning.com. (If you would like your post to remain anonymous please contact us). Improvement of process or plans only comes through feedback!
welcome and introductions, each person will pull out an object from a bag and share the memory that the object provokes for them. These objects should be simple household items such as a utensil, a toy, a book or magazine, etc. They will then place the object back in the bag and pass the bag on to the next person. You can also have them select from the bag without looking; this would require giving that person a few seconds to come up with a response and may be more nerve wrecking. OBJECTS IN A BAG - OPTION TWO: As mentioned previously, collect 6-8 objects and place them in a bag. On a volunteer basis, ask guests to choose an object from the bag and answer the following question(s): What does this object mean to you? What memory does this spark for you? WHATS IN A NAME? As a simple icebreaker, as people introduce themselves, have them tell the story to their name. Where did it come from? Does it mean anything specific? USING FILM TO SPARK THE CONVERSATION: Consider using a short film to start your evening. For example, you and your guests could watch Im Not the Indian You Had in Mind and as with the Objects in a Bag activity, everyone could take a turn sharing a memories, experiences or stories that this film evokes. (Note: This 7 minute film can be accessed here - http://www.nsicanada.ca/i_m_not_the_indian_you_had_in_mind.aspx) You may choose to identify another short clip on youtube for example which you feel will spark conversation. Be sure to keep your film to no more than ten minutes. Dinner Circle Please feel free to dive deeper into guests description of their memory by using the following questions as probing questions: Tell us more about... [a certain aspect of their story]. How does or did that object/film make you feel? Does anyone else have a similar memory (or different) with the same object? Utilize the Circle process to enable all voices to be heard and let guests know they can feel free to pass. By maintaining the circle, you ensure respect and reciprocity. Try to help make connections between people and their stories to help the conversation along. Conclusion of the dialogue In a circle format (allowing everyone to gather in a circle and share one at a time around a circle), ask participants to share any thoughts/feelings about the dialogue. Hand out the comment cards for participants to fill out.
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.
2 Days Before: Gather Your Materials Comment cards Take away cards Objects for icebreaker Print out Ground Rules for Dialogue Computer or DVD to show video Any additional cutlery, plates, or chairs you might need
After Your Potluck Dialogue Debrief with your co-host immediately after (feel free to take notes) Write a blog post for circlealberta.ning.com describing your experiences Follow-up with your guests, via phone or email, to thank them for participating Invite your guests to submit a short blog post of their experiences Return the Comment Cards to the John Humphrey Centre Call or email us to tell us how your Potluck Dialogue went