I learned a new word this week: teechma. It’s the Nuu-Chah-Nulth word for heart, but it conveys a deep meaning when you hear an Elder in her village talking about why she thinks something will work, why she is hopeful about changing the system solely because we spoke about it from our hearts, our words coming from teechma. I was with my mates Wally Samuel, Kris Archie and Kyra Mason this week in three isolated villages on the north west coast of Vancouver Island, Oclucje, Ehattesaht and Ka:’yu’k’t’h’. We were travelling there on behalf of VIATT to hear what these …
Campbell River BC Constantly on the road these days. Just did a weekend strategic planning session with the VIATT Board – a very interesting session. We are at the point in our planning where we are developing the structures that will govern this system once we begin to assume full authority next year. This is a tricky set of questions, involving money, leadership, turf and control as we try to find the best structure that will run the system in line with deep community values. And so as we confront this moment, the Board decided to have a strategic planning …
I’ve been out of touch all last week, ensconced in a fascinating five day retreat with an organization that is working hard to make Open Space Technology a part of their basic operating system. We were working at a fishing lodge in Campbell River BC all week overlooking the Discovery Passage, which was filled with sea lions, eagles and a small pod of killer whales. I had very limited internet access, and it was actually a great gift to be unplugged during that whole time. There is lots to harvest from the trip, and several bits and pieces that …
The Wayfarers by Rupert Brooke Is it the hour? We leave this resting-place Made fair by one another for a while. Now, for a god-speed, one last mad embrace; The long road then, unlit by your faint smile. Ah! the long road! and you so far away! Oh, I’ll remember! but . . . each crawling day Will pale a little your scarlet lips, each mile Dull the dear pain of your remembered face. . . . Do you think there’s a far border town, somewhere, The desert’s edge, last of the lands we know, Some gaunt eventual limit of …
I was in Victoria Tuesday and Wednesday and, in addition to working, found out a few other things about my regular routine there: Tuesday’s there is an Irish session (with some other tunes) at the Bent Mast Pub in James Bay. It’s a very friendly session, and a nice social scene. My new friend Jonathan took a few pictures of our tijme together on Tuesday including the one above of me. we even had a dancer join us. The best place for lunch on the whole planet bar none is daidoco. It is a little Jaanese place tucked into Nootka …