My love

So we're still here, still enjoying the dark shadowy recesses of the den. If you just came, go here first. Trust me, it might make more sense.

One of the founding principles of the First Nations University of Canada is to teach from the cultural perspective of our Elders and to use the world view of various First Nations to create a unique and fulfilling educational atmosphere that will allow all cultures of Canada to benefit from those teachings. As such it is baffling that our leadership took so long to fix themselves, and in fact didn't choose to but were forced to by the actions of students and faculty.

So as such I want to teach you something. One of the things I learned at the First Nations University of Canada. Well, actually, I learned it a long time ago. Turns out I've always lived 'as an Indian.' Just didn't know how to articulate it.

One of the fundamental aspects of First Nations world view is the concept of the Sacred Circle. While it has been called many different things, and is symbolized by a lot of different ideas, words, and pictures. Yet despite the simplicity of this idea and symbol it is rarely incorporated correctly or interpreted correctly.

When it is stated that this symbol encompasses everything, it literally means that. EVERYTHING is in this circle. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Everything is inside this circle. Within it is a web of connections that touches everything else.

So why does this apparently simple concept get so misinterpreted. Because of human falicy. Because even those raised in this culture and who claim to live by these principles can sometimes forget this central point. It happens, it isn't wrong, or bad, it just happens. No one can forever walk their path without misstep.

So to expand this to a concrete example, let's look at my school again. The FNUC uses a principle of inclusion in its education principles. But our leaders forgot about that. They refused outside help, they ignored warnings and issues that others had pointed out and continued down a path of self-interest rather than inclusion. They excluded others who could help them so they failed. And now we're finding in the fixing of the problems that perhaps that is starting to happen again.

I say this because what baffles me, is while I know that the provincial and federal governments do have an obligation to fund the FNUC, what is being done to include outside sources of revenue? A friend once said your ability to get funding depends on your ability to get funding. This idea fits perfectly into the Circle. Your ability to include others, and to widen the overall impact of the school depends on your ability to include others and widen the overall impact of the school.

While that might seem like a redundant thought, I'd prefer if you took some time just to consider that idea. How do you understand the overall impact without testing the waters and trying to get as broad a range as possible?

So I'll take this down a step to just me and you, here in the den. Me and you, sitting here and enjoying some food. If you and I can sit here and discuss this, even if we don't agree on the same point, that doesn't mean either of us are wrong. In fact it is the disagreement, the difference and tension, that creates a space that is most useful. Because it allows both of us a place to understand more than we knew before.

So does that make any sense? No? Yes? Think it over. Find the difference and the space. Find the whole.