I’m not a good conference blogger, preferring to show up at conferences and be as present as I can in conversation with the people who are in the room. But in this case I might get some time to use the blog to capture some learnings from the conference ‘m at this week.
I’m on Whidbey Island, near Seattle at the Evolutionary Salon. The theme of our gathering here is “Catalyzing Collective Intelligence and Social Creativity” and the conveners are inviting us to engage in this inquiry:
“How do we understand, interpret, apply, and communicate the evolutionary worldview offered by mainstream and emerging sciences, and harness the collective intelligence and social creativity of our species, to facilitate a positive impact on the evolution of humanity and the natural world?”
We’re just getting started here, and I’m fresh to this gathering with an open mind, living with the possibility that there could be some remarkable connections made here. This evening in conversation with some friends new and old I started thinking about how important it is that collective intelligence and evolution requires both the discernment and cultivation of a personal growing edge, and the collective shaping of a moment that invites that process in others. If we include shaping the moment at our own growing edge, we end up creating an autocatalytic social system that promoted learning, right relationships and wise action.
You can find out a little more about what we’re doing, and check out some of the remarkable participants who are here, at the gathering website.
As another year draws to a close, I’d like to publicly thank the clients and partners I’ve had a chance to work with this year.
- Prince George Urban Aboriginal Strategy
- Aboriginal Business Development Centre, Prince George
- Building Our Legacy Together, Aboriginal Youth Council
- Vancouver Island Aboriginal Transition Team
- Windsor House School
- National Aboriginal Forestry Association
- Karyo Communications
- City of Vancouver, OneDay campaign
- Chief Dan George Centre at Simon Fraser University
- Centre for Native Policy and Research
- Department of Indian Affairs and Norther Development, BC Economic Development Directorate
- Committee Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth
- The Justice Institute of BC
- First Nations Chiefs Health Committee
- British Columbia Child and Youth Officer
- Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
- McCreary Youth Foundation
- MBA Program, Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia
- ImagineCalgary
- Island ROOTS
- Health Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
- Victoria Urban Development Agreement
- Society for Children and Youth, Child & Youth Rights-based Monitoring Initiative
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Pacific Region Wild Salmon Policy
- Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of BC
- The Project for New Philanthropy Studies at Donors Trust
- BC Native Economic Development Advisory Board
- Soowahlie First Nation
And partners:
- Chris Robertson
- Kathryn Thompson
- Myriam LaBerge
- Lyla Brown
- Susan Neden
- Curtis Clear Sky
- Kris Archie
- Wendy Farmer-O’Neil
- Beverley Neff
- Nancy McPhee
- Val Embree
- Caitlin Frost
- Pawatskwachilth Haiyupis
Thanks again for a great year!
I’m anticipating some lighter blogging ahead, as I will be offline for a couple of weeks after Christmas. So let me take this opportunity now to wish everyone who celebrates it, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all. Thanks for another year of reading, writing, linking, and learning.
In memoriam
Genevi�ve Bergeron – H�l�ne Colgan – Nathalie Croteau – Barbara Daigneault –
Anne-Marie Edward – Maud Haviernick – Barbara Klucznik Widajewicz – Maryse Lagani�re – Maryse Leclair – Anne-Marie Lemay – Sonia Pelletier – Mich�le Richard – Annie St-Arneault – Annie Turcotte
It’s World AIDS Day, and every year, I link to an Aboriginal HIV/AIDS project. This year it’s Chee Mamuk, the Aboriginal AIDS and STD awareness program at the BC Centre for Disease Control.
In memoriam, to all the Aboriginal brothers and sisters who have succumbed to this disease, and a strong shout out to all who are living with it.