About the Wisdom and Guidance Committee
Wolf Creek Public Schools formed its Wisdom and Guidance Committee in September 2014. The Wisdom and Guidance Committee provides an engagement opportunity for Indigenous Elders, parents/guardians, families and community to meet with Wolf Creek Public Schools Board, Division, and school leadership.
The Wisdom and Guidance Committee provides guidance, identifies barriers and celebrates successes that support our Indigenous students across the Wolf Creek Public Schools. We welcome Indigenous Elders, parents/guardians, families and community to join us! Please connect with the Director of Indigenous Education and Reconciliation for more information.
Meeting Structure
Wisdom and Guidance Committee meetings will take place as a sharing/talking circle. “Talking circles are based on the sacred traditions of the sharing circles. Talking circles create a safe environment for participants to share their point of view with others. In a talking circle everyone belongs. Participants in a talking circle learn to listen to and respect the views of others. The intention is to open people’s hearts so that they can understand and connect with one another.“ (Education is Our Buffalo ATA 2008)
A question will be posed to the committee and the committee will respond and provide feedback. Protocols will be discussed before the session begins. Minutes will be kept to record directions, actions and discussion topics from the meeting. Minutes will be posted on the Wolf Creek Public Schools' website.
Wisdom & Guidance Committee Protocols
(Note: Chair is expected to review these at the start of every meeting as a reminder)
Working Together
- The Chair (Note: chair refers to the Director of Indigenous Education and Reconciliation and Elders)
- Active listening is expected and distractors are discouraged to ensure full engagement in the meeting.
- In the event that confidential information is shared in the meeting, the Wisdom and Guidance committee resolves to protecting it.
- Respecting all team members by committing to the Talking Circle Protocols.
Talking Circle Protocols (Taken From Our Words, Our Ways - Alberta Education 2005)
- Participants sit in a circle, which symbolizes completeness.
- Everyone’s contributions are equally important.
- People should say what they feel or believe, beginning with “I- statements (for example, “I feel that…”)
- All comments should directly address the question or the issue.
- A feather, rock, beaded item, or talking stick will be used as a talking object.
- When the talking object is placed in someone’s hands, it is that person’s turn to share his or her thoughts, without interruption. The object is then passed to the next person in a clockwise direction.
- Whoever is holding the object has the right to speak, and others have the responsibility to listen.
- Everyone listens in a nonjudgmental way.
- Silence is an acceptable response. There must be no negative reaction to the phrase, “I pass.”
- Speakers should feel free to express themselves in any way that is comfortable to them (for example, sharing a story or personal experience, using examples of metaphors).
