Hear from people who benefited from the 2019 Circle Peacemaking & Facilitation Workshops
About the RurAL CAP Circle Peacemaking Workshop
Click on the names below to read their story:
April 9-11, 2019 & August 13-15, 2019: Our communities utilized the Circle process for many things with different methods, names, and protocol. It is vital to create balance in our communities and support overall health and wellness. The circle is not only approved by our Ancestors, but is also an evidence-based tool that has been proven a useful tool in juvenile delinquency, alcohol/substance abuse, and conflict resolution.
Working with the Youth
As a Critical Incident Stress Management Counselor; the community pulled together in a talking circle and gave each other confidence to open their “story” or feelings. As for the school: the talking circle was set up by grade ( up to 6th/7th grade, then 9th to 12th grade) discussion was made to ensure healing awareness and the signs of needing further counseling was given and recommended. Younger children in school were given a story and two counselors role played by explaining a specific incident, who acted/reacted naturally, and what can be done and to who the children can talk with an adult/counselor about the incident. Each agency was broken down by 1st responders and incident supporters (front desk clerks/dispatcher/family & friends). A debriefing was completed in a healing circle. At times, those who did not participate in the healing circle were invited one on one for a debriefing. Further counseling was recommended most of the time by their assigned Behavior Health Aide or by the assigned psychiatrist. Community activities were recommended; A weekly luncheon was recommended with ALL 1st Responders with an invite of staff supporters.
The Circle Process – A Positive Impact on Dillingham.
The Senior Center positively in terms of more openness understanding and acceptance of the possibility with the incorporation of our Elders affirmations. A potlatch recovery sobriety celebration Dance follows with drumming. The first Elders BEAYM is tentatively on November- 8th, in other words we have been practicing, and we have been given matching Kuspaqs I am now beginning to work on finding youth dancers with Norma Hiratsuka at the Dillingham School District to set up framework of beading and dance lessons for the first Elders BEAYM on November 8th.
Sharing ways of productive living: one day at a time!
Thank you RurAL CAP!
The success we have so far is we continue to work together. Continue meeting. Continue inviting a wider and wider circle. We have people from the city, the tribe, the school, several faith communities and the recovery community participating as we struggle together to envision what genuine justice would function.
Our community recently (last year) experienced the death by cop of one of our beloved young men. This brought many ugly thoughts, feelings and memories up across all domains of our community. This is a deep wound. The city recently condemned and demolished one of our local party houses, which resulted in a half a dozen people becoming suddenly unsolicited. This is also creating difficult feelings for many people. Our People who have had the most experience with criminal and tribal courts are the least willing to become involved in a NEW kind of justice. My prayer is that a circle peacemaking process may be worked into our community and found effective in resolving what we all agree are difficult problems: addiction, unaddressed mental health issues, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, theft and property crimes.
The Resource Basket
This is a RurAL CAP affiliated program.