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Systems Thinking with an Indigenous Lens

Workshop Offering

We live in an increasingly complex world that requires solutions that tackle the root causes of issues, not just their symptoms. Systems thinking is a tool for sense-making and working with complexity in various contexts that echoes the way of knowing familiar to many Indigenous cultures around the world.

*Please note that this workshop is now being offered by Gary Hutton directly. For inquiries, please reach out to him via email at gary.jj.hutton(at)gmail.com*

 

This workshop merges Western and Indigenous ways of seeing and sense-making while exploring theories and concepts that are applicable across a wide array of areas. It will benefit anyone curious or working in the domain of social change and innovation, as well as community development, social planning, sustainability, food security, evaluation, advocacy, movement-building, education, public service and in many others.

 

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand the basic principles of systems thinking
  • Start practicing thinking in systems
  • Increase knowledge about Indigenous history in Canada, and how colonization disrupted traditional systems
  • Explore the notion of transformational change as an intervention, and ways of approaching it in the context of complexity and emergence

 

Reflections from past participants:

  • “Appreciate the reconciliation lens on the systems thinking”.
  • “Great session! I appreciated how Indigenous history and cultural knowledge was incorporated. This is extremely important.”
  • “I thought the facilitators were both artfully clear about what can be a complex topic.”

  • "Gary and Anastasia, thank you for bringing a perspective that challenges everyone to think about the bigger struggle we all find ourselves in, and offer some tools that can be used to make sense of it all."

  • "This was a wonderful workshop; informed, informative, open-minded, constructive, kind, and forward-thinking. It's encouraging to see so many engaged and striving to uplift and empower people."

  • "Deeply grateful for the opportunity to enter into this transformative conversation as a government employee, thank you to everyone involved, more of this please! Gary and Anastasia, thank you for your courageous hearts and powerful messages."

  • Systems View: Water in Water is still, WATER! by Iqbaldeep (Sona) Kaur
This workshop is developed and facilitated by Anastasia Gaisenok and Gary J. Hutton.


Gary J. Hutton is a Nehiyaw (Cree) man from Edmonton, Alberta. So far his journey has taken him from Indigenous sovereignty and environmental activism to working directly on the water and the land through farming and fishing, and to building virtual worlds through video game art and design, among other things. He is currently working with various First Nations in BC on developing and delivering mindfulness programs for youth while continuing his study of Zen Buddhism with the Venerable Anzan Hoshin roshi at Dainen-Ji in Ottawa. Gary has spent his life studying both scientific and spiritual areas of knowledge, attempting to synthesize these vital systems to embody a greater understanding of human experience and expression, as well as conceive of a vision for a more sustainable way of life for human beings and society that preserves our global ecosystems and human flourishing.

 
Curious to explore the possibilities of working together? Schedule a free 30-minute conversation.

 

Located on the unceded traditional territory of the K'omoks (Comox) people - Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada                                © 2020 Green Amber Consulting  

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