In The Interest of Time

Several years ago, a community member invited me for a coffee so we could get acquainted. As we sat in conversation at the Starbucks in Chapters, he shared with me how much he valued our recorded library, but that it was a lot to wade through when you are looking for guidance on one specific things: like what to consider when visiting a community for the first time, how to approach a land acknowledgement, or how to provide care in a culturally respectful way. It would be wonderful, he said, if there were a way to search for it in the library.

I never forgot that conversation. He wanted to do things right and he was looking for help finding the way.

My partner is a researcher who describes his work as living at the intersection of science and computing, and lately his world has been dominated by all things AI. He is very capable when it comes to developing software and creating workflows, so when he asked if there was anything he could help with in our work, I told him about that coffee. We decided to sit down with George and Katy and talk about the possibilities.

I was excited. I love finding a solution to a problem, and there is so much incredible information woven through our library. Our members portal holds a recording of every workshop we have ever hosted, and it is truly a treasure trove. It is also a lot of hours to wade through, and I understand why someone would want a more efficient method for searching.

George was reluctant right away, and the more we talked, the more resistant he became. He was not comfortable with the idea of using AI. The Mentors share their knowledge and stories with our community members in a circle of safety, which they do not want broadly shared, no matter how secure anyone says a system is. I listened, but part of me kept wondering if there might be a way.

A few months ago, the platform that houses our members' portal announced an integration with an AI tool called Claude Cowork by Anthropic. I learned that if we uploaded transcripts of our calls along with the videos, AI could search our library and our members could use it to find specific things. Holy moly. This was exactly the solution we’d been talking about. 

Then, I began remembering what George and the Mentors say often: teachings are shared with a person, for a purpose, and with care for how they will be used. He offers: “when we sit down with our Elders/Knowledge Keepers, you might be able to ask a question, but you have to sit there and listen to the stories that come along with the answers. It isn't as simple as asking Google. You have to take in the nuances of communication with an Elder. You need to slow down and have patience. That is where the beauty of the teaching lies.”

This work happens in relationship.

A search bar can hand someone an answer, but it doesn’t know who is asking or why. It can’t tell them to slow down, or that it isn’t the right time, or that there is a story they need to hear first. I realized that using AI to automate this would be a shortcut around the relationship, and without the relationship the teaching becomes hollow. 

This does not solve the challenges faced by our community members while navigating the library. It still takes time to find what you’re looking for, and the easiest fix is the one which will be least intentional. But this work happens in relationships, and a relationship requires presence.

And lastly, the mentors are here, and they are willing to sit in relationship with anyone who wishes to connect in our virtual circle. If you are getting ready to visit a community, offer a land acknowledgement, or provide care in a culturally respectful way, bring your questions to a community call. If you’d like to experience what that feels like, just hit reply and we’ll send you an invite.

We are upholding the teachings that have been shared with us.

In learning,

Kim