Page 25 - Walking_The_Red_Road

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ensures the process is grounded in and driven by the community.
When the project was just an idea, three circles were created to guide and drive the project: Community Action Circle, Elders Action Circle and Youth Action Circle. Initially, the Community Action Circle
was going to be a committee but when one
of the members set the chairs up in a circle for the first meeting, the circle concept was formally adopted. “That is how everything is done in Aboriginal communities, so everyone is equal, everyone has a say, everyone can be seen and can make eye contact with others,” said one of the participants. “No one stands or sits in front of someone. And everyone’s opinion is valued.”
The way each circle functioned was defined by its members. The differences between them readily confirmed why it was important to support each group to choose how they wanted to work together, rather than suggesting a consistent approach
for all.
Read the story, “Three Circles in Action” to
learn more about how these groups worked and their roles in the overall process.
Participatory planning and decision-making
Walking the Red Road | REPORT OF THE URBAN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES THRIVE PROJECT
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We didn’t want a community-based research project; we wanted one that was community-driven.
Patty Chabbert, Lead Researcher