Held in the Circle

This past Saturday I was up before my alarm, like a little like a kid on Christmas. A mix of excitement, anticipation, and anxiety had been building for weeks, and the day had finally arrived--our Longhouse Experiential Workshop in Stz'uminus First Nation.

I arrived at longhouse shortly after 8:30, push broom in hand. A friend and Stz'uminus member had advised me to come early and sweep the benches, as she told me that they can get dusty. So there I was, alone in the nearly empty room, pushing a broom in the quiet, when the weight of what was about to happen settled over me.

We were expecting 200 people. Most had never set foot in a longhouse before. Many were just beginning to find their footing in relationship with First Nations people and communities. The trust that had been placed in me felt enormous. I found myself wondering how the community would feel, watching unfamiliar vehicles stream in. I quietly checked the Facebook feed a few times throughout the day, looking for any sign of concern.

It was quiet. All quiet.

I needn't have worried.

During our time together, Len spoke about systems. He described how colonial structures are built on hierarchy: a leader at the top, then VPs, EDs, Directors, Managers, and so on, each layer separated from the one above and below it. Indigenous systems, he explained, are different. They are circular. Each group held and supported by the ones around them.

I did not know it yet, but I was already living inside that teaching.

A few weeks before the event, George and I had been trying to figure out how we would manage setup and takedown while everything else was unfolding. George reminded me that when a family is doing work, they rely on their relations to hold the periphery. In that moment, we both knew we had everything we needed. I reached out to some of our longtime community members and asked if they could lend their hands.

And did they ever.

Our guests showed up the same way. They arrived early. They offered assistance. They stayed late. They were quiet when quiet was needed, and present when presence was called for. They came as good guests, with open hearts and minds, and they made space for something meaningful to happen.

By the end of the day, as I sat with everything that had unfolded, I felt it clearly. I had been held inside that circle. Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, by people who had chosen to show up and do this together.

That is what this work looks like when it is working.

Thank you to Trevor, Sean, John David, Dominic, Liz, Caylie, Ellen, Kathy, Josepha, and Laura for your leadership and the quiet, steady care you brought to the day. The setup and cleanup happened so seamlessly it felt like magic. Huy tseep q'u.

Thank you to our Mentors and Team: George, Katy, Becca, Deb, and Lise. You showed up with brilliance, care, and commitment.

Thank you to my partner Akash, for taking care of me when I wasn't taking care of myself.

Thank you to the Harris family for opening your beautiful home to us.

Thank you to Andrew Sampson and crew for nourishing us so generously.

Thank you to Len, Malissa, Lise, and Patrick for leading the work, facilitating our ceremony, and for creating enough safety that I could keep learning even while it was all happening.

Thank you to Daniel for holding the people who needed to be held.

Thank you to Thomas and Candice for the medicines you made and shared.

And thank you to every single guest who came with an open heart and walked gently. Thank you for lending your hands, for being good guests and for walking softly. Huy ch q'u. 

For many of you, Saturday was your first glimpse into this community. If you felt something stir in you during the day, and you are wondering what comes next, we would love to stay in conversation with you.

We are hosting a webinar where you can learn more about how Culturally Committed began, who holds and supports the work, and what it looks like in practice. I will share the story of how this all started, George will speak to the relationships and community that make it possible, and Katy will bring it to life with what the work actually looks like day to day.

If Saturday planted a seed, this is your opportunity to water it.

We would be honoured to have you join us.

Register for our upcoming webinar here.

Thank you | Huy ch q'u | Marsi,

🤍 Kim