AIDTAC American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center



This brief was developed by the University of Montana Rural Institute’s Technical Assistance on Native American Culture (TANAC) project formerly funded by SSA.

The Native American TA Team from the WIPA National Training Center at Virginia Commonwealth University in collaboration with the University of Montana and Griffin Hammis Associates is providing you with this brief, one in a series containing information to help improve WIPA services for Native Americans.

Technical Assistance on Native American Culture: Improving WIPA Services for Native American SSA Beneficiaries with Disabilities

Issues Brief 1, Part II February 2009

Talking Circles: A way for CWICs to build working relationships with Tribal communities and Native American SSA beneficiaries with disabilities

In Issues Brief 1, Part I, the Native American TA team presented demographic information that illustrates the cultural distinctness of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. You also learned that Native Americans live in Tribal and non-tribal communities across the United States. The majority of Native Americans live in metropolitan areas; however, many live in rural America, sometimes in particularly remote areas. Since Native Americans reside throughout the United States and its territories, you very likely will be working with Native American people and Tribal communities in your service area. We believe that you will find working with Native Americans with disabilities, their families, and Tribal communities will not only be interesting and fulfilling experiences, but also challenging because of the cultural gaps that often exist between non-tribal government programs, and Native American people and Tribal communities. The Talking Circle is one tool that can be used to help bridge this cultural gap because it can help CWICs learn how to work with Native American SSA beneficiaries with disabilities, their families, and their communities. How to Hold a Successful Talking Circle (WIPA Edition), which includes Talking Circle Steps for CWICs Benefits Specialists.

What is a Talking Circle?

The “Talking Circle” is used by some Tribal communities as a way to talk about and reach a consensus about important community decisions. The talking circle uses practical methods that promote positive results. The circle creates an open setting where each participant will speak and, in turn, will be heard.

The circle arrangement emphasizes the connectedness of the participants, equal responsibility for

leadership, and ownership of the solution by all participants in the circle.

The use of a “talking piece,” such as a feather, stick, or stone, will determine who is speaking and

requires other participants to wait before speaking. The passing of the talking piece slows down the

process to promote reflection and focused listening. Talking circles have been used by tribes to make important decisions about wide-ranging topics including resource use, Tribal justice, disability programs,

and conflict resolution by promoting consensus and allowing input from as many participants as possible.

It is important to note that not all Tribal communities use talking circles or recognize this concept. Nonetheless, we believe CWICs will find that the talking circle is an effective way to

increase awareness about Native American people and communities in their service areas.

Why Talking Circles?

The importance of using the talking circle as a way to learn about Tribal communities is probably best summed up by Native American TA team member Marsha Katz, an Organizational Consultant at The Rural Institute, who makes the following observation in her earlier writings about working with Tribal communities:

[A]nyone from outside an Indian community who wishes to partner with people with disabilities inside the community would do well to keep several things in mind, because herein lie some of the challenges that must be met if opportunities are to be seized. First and foremost is the reality that the people in and of the community are the real experts.

We believe that CWICs can best learn about the culture of a Native American community by exploring that community’s culture through becoming acquainted with its experts, for example, a community leader, spiritual leader, or cultural leader. These folks are the experts about their particular community and can help make the contacts necessary to hold a talking circle.

Talking circle steps:

The importance of respecting Tribal sovereignty is paramount when working with Native American communities. CWICs who will be working in a Tribal community may find these steps helpful for gaining assistance from the Tribal community to hold a talking circle:

• The CWIC first identifies a Tribal contact person; for example a Tribal social service program director or urban Indian center director.

• A welcome letter is sent to the Tribal contact explaining the purpose of the meeting, perhaps followed up by a phone call, and whenever possible, a personal visit..

• The Tribal contact person seeks Tribal council approval (when appropriate).

• Once the contact has received approval, relevant materials to help facilitate the meeting are sent to the contact.

• The contact is responsible for organizing the talking circle, including finding a meeting place, inviting key participants, advertising the event, and providing copies of materials for the meeting.

• The Talking Circle, often a one-and-a-half to two-day workshop format, is held so CWICs can learn about the culture, customs, traditions, and socioeconomic issues of a particular Native American community.

• CWICs likewise share information about important SSA program terms and concepts, with a general participant discussion, and a Question and Answer period. CWICS can also reciprocate by providing individual help as requested.

Cultural Awareness considerations for Talking Circles

The importance of being culturally respectful can not be overemphasized. Talking circles are effective ways to learn about Native American communities; however, CWICS may be concerned about the issue of how to be culturally respectful. Once again, the answer lies in consulting with the experts themselves; that is, first become acquainted with someone from the particular Tribal community: talk with a community leader, spiritual leader, or cultural leader to learn about what is and isn’t culturally respectful. You may also want to consider these cultural awareness tips:

• The degree of appropriate eye contact often varies across cultures, age, gender, and social status.

• Watch for non-verbal cues before speaking. It may be better to wait until spoken to before initiating direct or indirect communication.

• Be mindful of any hand gestures you use because such gestures can often have very different meanings among cultures.

• Remember that cultural values may influence who will do the talking in a group.

• When beginning a talking circle, inform the group that you may not be completely familiar with their culture and anything you do that may appear disrespectful is not intentional. You might invite the group to bring such a matter to your attention.

•

Resources and additional reading:

For information about the Native American TA project, please visit our websites at

vcu- or will find dates and times for upcoming teleconferences, additional issue briefs and other publications, and other useful information.

Clay, J. (1992). Native American Independent Living. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 11, 41-50.

Katz, M (2002). Meeting the Challenges & Seizing the Opportunities in Indian Country. Rural Exchange 15(2) The University of Montana Rural Institute

References:

Fowler, L., Bruekman, S., Dwyer, K., & Seekins, T. (2000). How to Hold a Successful Talking Circle. Missoula: The University of Montana Rural Institute, American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center.

Katz, M. (n.d.). Treading with care upon the earth: Working in Indian Country Respectfully to Meet the Challenges and Seize the Opportunities. Retrieved October 20, 2005 from

Legal Foundation for Hawaiian Independence. (n.d.). A Brief History of Hawaii. Retrieved October 19, 2005 from

Locust, C. (1985). Handicapped American Indians: Beliefs and behaviors. Tuscon, Arizona: University of Arizona, Native American Research and Training Center, College of Medicine, Family and Community Medicine.

National Council on Disability. (2003, August 1). Understanding Disabilities in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: Toolkit Guide. Retrieved October 26, 2005 from

Sanderson, P. (2001). American Indians: an overview of factors influencing

health care, disability, and service delivery. In C.A. Marshall (Ed). Rehabilitation and American Indians with disabilities: a handbook for administrators, practitioners, and researchers. (p. 28). Athens, GA: Elliot & Fitzpatrick, Inc.

Ulrich, G. (Spring 1999). Current Public Law and Policy Issues: Widening the circle: Adapting traditional Indian dispute resolution methods to implement alternative dispute resolution and restorative justice in modern communities. Hamline Journal of Public Law and Policy, 20, 419, 427.

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This Issues Brief was written by Julie Clay and Alan Fugleberg under the TANAC project formerly funded by the United States Social Security Administration; and updated as part of the SSA-funded 2009 Native American TA project by Marsha Katz.

Alternative formats are available upon request.

Opinions expressed in this Issues Brief are not necessarily those of the

Social Security Administration.

____________________________________________________________________________

This Issues Brief is provided by

WIPA National Training Center – Native American TA

vcu-

In collaboration with The University of Montana Rural Institute

And Griffin Hammis Associates

Reader Survey: Issues Brief 1, Part II

Talking Circles: A way for CWICs to build working relationships with Tribal

communities and Native American SSA beneficiaries with disabilities

The Native American TA Team is dedicated to providing you with timely, useful information. To help us, please take a moment to answer these questions and email to mrkatz@ruralinstitute.umt.edu

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