Thunderbird House: Everyone is Right
Since March, the Circle of Life Thunderbird House has been locked in a very public battle between a group of people who are occupying the space, and the incoming board of directors. Occupy Thunderbird House wants programming for community, the elders council re-instated as well as transparency for any funding received in recent years. The board wants to rebuild the organizational structure and provide repairs to the building. Both groups want the Thunderbird House to fly again.
I always say "the health of Indigenous people in Winnipeg can be seen in the upkeep and maintenance of the Thunderbird House." Clearly, we are not in a good place right now. And clearly, things have been getting worse. The copper was removed from the roof and must be repaired, simple maintenance for building operations are needed, relationships and supports need to be built with the relatives who are staying in the encampment that have popped up immediately beside the Thunderbird House. And of course, some type of mediation or communication has to be supported so that the new board of directors and the group of community members occupying the space can come together and put their energy towards loving the Thunderbird House back to life instead of being distracted by fighting with one another.
Here's where we are right now: Everyone is right. Both the incoming board and Occupy Thunderbird House are correct. We do have to reinstate an elders council for guidance, we do have to open the doors to the community, we do have to monitor organizational requirements like board governance and financial statements, we do have to provide repairs to the roof. Everyone is right, but we need them working together.
Circles are special. If you make a circle out of people, only one person has to step away and then no one is in a circle anymore. The actions of one impact the rest of the group. How can we encourage leaders in protest and leaders in board governance to stay in the circle, speak one time and listen many more times? I believe if that happened we would have progress and success that would come quickly and momentum would be built by leaning on the energy of these 2 groups and listening to our community members. I am ready to help too as I’m sure many other community members are too.
I imagine what would happen if the new board sat in circle and listened to Occupy Thunderbird House? What would happen if the 2 groups came together and each group shared all the ways they are willing to support the Thunderbird House? I believe that the energy of the protesters and the wisdom of the incoming board can position the Thunderbird House to be successful in the future.
She will fly again.
But first we have to listen to one another and we have to work together.
note: a previous version of this post used the word protesters - upon guidance from a community kookum, changes have been made and this is the current version
