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PREMABLE:
The Wicihitowin Men’s Community Circle will be guided by the Wicihitowin: Circle of Shared Responsibility and Stewardship, and together we call each other into the circle. We call for guidance as we stand together side by side as brothers and commit to do work for the common good of all. At the centre of our circle is a spiritual core that we call upon to give us guidance for the benefit of many generations to come.
VISION:
Aboriginal men in Edmonton realize and live their full Wholistic roles and potentials.
MISSION:
By creating a healthy and engaging place, the Men’s Community Circle provides Edmonton’s Aboriginal men opportunities to identify and share their concerns and needs while exploring and recommending solutions to the Wicihitowin Circle and the Action Circles.
PURPOSE:
Respecting the Wicihitowin – Circle of Shared Responsibility and Stewardship, the Men’s Community Circle is established to provide guidance and input to the Wicihitowin Circle and Action Circles on issues that affect the Edmonton Aboriginal community.
PRINCIPLES:
In addition to the Wicihitowin Circle of Shared Responsibility and Stewardship’s Guiding Principles, the following additional Principles are unique to the Wicihitowin Men’s Community Circle:
- Aboriginal ways of being are based on a balance of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.
- We honor and respect diverse cultural practices and traditional knowledge about men for their inclusion, involvement, and consultation.
- We engage, encourage and support men in all of our goals and activities.
- We promote and respect organizational mandates and representation.
- We encourage commitment, consistency and new ideas.
MEMBERSHIP:
- Members include anyone who identifies as a male, and any and all male sexual orientations and gender identities within the male construct.
- Members include any interested men from community groups, organizations, and all orders of government.
- Will include, but not be limited to clients and/or consumers, volunteers, front line service workers, administrators, managers, policy makers and legislators.
- The Elders, Youth, and Women’s circles will each have one seat available at the Men’s Community Circle meetings to reflect their interests.
- New members are always welcome.
ELDERS:
- The Men’s Community Circle will seek the guidance and wisdom of Elders that follow and practice Traditional ways.
- The Men’s Community Circle will select, by Consensus, an Elder to provide guidance and wisdom. Efforts will be made to include Metis, Inuit and First Nations perspectives.
CODE OF COMMITMENT:
The Men’s Community Circle will uphold the Code of Commitment of the Wicihitowin Circle of Shared Responsibility and Stewardship.
PROCEDURES:
Decision Making - The Wicihitowin Men’s Community Circle will make decisions based on the Wicihitowin consensus model. All decisions will be made in the best interests of the Aboriginal community; members will be honoured and respected for their decisions.
The Wicihitowin Circle uses the three finger method, with the number of fingers having the following meanings:
- One finger indicates agreement with the proposal under discussion.
- Two fingers indicate that the member has reservations, is unwilling to delay group consensus and would like to discuss the issue further.
- Three fingers indicate the member’s opposition to the proposal at hand. When a member or members uses three fingers, it is his or her responsibility to work with the proposing group to come up with a solution that will work for everyone.
RESULTS OF CONSENSUS:
- Consensus means that everyone present has one finger up in the decision-making process.
- General Consensus means that everyone present has one or two fingers up showing lukewarm support and further discussion must be undertaken.
- Consensus is not reached when a member shows three fingers and further discussion is then required. In the event that consensus cannot be reached, an Elder will be consulted.
MEETINGS:
Meetings will take place on the third Monday of each month from 1:30 – 4:00 pm at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre. Additional meetings for planning and sub-committee working groups may also be set.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Two Co-Chairs will be chosen by consensus by the Men’s Community Circle members. Co-chair terms will be for a two year period to a maximum of three terms. Terms will be staggered to ensure overlap and consistency.
A letter will be submitted to the Wicihitowin Circle to identify the Co-Chairs of the Men’s Community Circle clarifying the primary representative and the alternate.
One Co-Chair will provide Circle representation on the Wicihitowin Circle of Shared Responsibility and Stewardship ensuring that the identified needs and concerns of the Men’s Community Circle is taken to the Wicihitowin Circle and that a report is brought back to the Men’s Community Circle.
One Co-Chair will work with the Secretariat to develop the draft agenda, lead and close the meeting, participate, and coordinate meeting space.
Co-Chair candidates will meet the “Transformational Leadership” criteria as described in the Wicihitowin – Circle of Shared Responsibility and Stewardship definitions – being:
Organizationally, a transformational leader is a person or organization with the merit and experience to provide the role of speaker or leader on a given issue, selected consensually by the Circle to carry out a function, task or responsibility
Individually, a transformational leader is one with vision, purpose, passion and the recognition and encouragement of each individual’s growth and contribution. A transformational leader challenges the status quo and prevailing assumptions and beliefs.”
The Secretariat will distribute meeting minutes, meeting notices / invitations, ensure the distribution of shared information, maintain a database of participants, and prepare meeting documents as ensure refreshments.
Members are encouraged to review minutes prior to meetings, share information about their respective community group, agency, or level of government, and report back to the Circle and their respective organization, where appropriate.
At least one Men’s Circle representative will be identified to participate at each Action Circle.
Members are welcome to extend an invitation to other interested men.
REVIEW:
The Circle recognizes this living document as fluid and ever evolving. We shall engage in a review at least annually to ensure context and respect for partners is maintained.
GOALS:
The Men’s Community Circle will host an annual Men’s retreat with follow up quarterly meetings to:
- Facilitate a consultation with Men to gather issues and needs.
- Review and prioritize the issues and concerns identified by the Men.
- Forward the Men’s community identified priorities to the appropriate Action Circles and the Wicihitowin Circle.
- Develop and implement annual strategies, initiatives and projects for issues and concerns that are not met through the Action Circle process.
- Evaluate their process.
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Contact Us
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Wicihitowin: Circle of Shared
Responsibility & Stewardship
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10650 - 113 Street,
Lower Floor
Edmonton, AB T5H 3H6
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Phone: 780-809-2192
Toll Free: 1-877-782-4609
Fax: 780-429-3711
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Wicihitowin: Circle of Shared Responsibility & Stewardship Circle of Shared Responsibility is a community-driven model of an urban governance process that is inclusive of the many Aboriginal peoples and the agencies that serve them in Edmonton
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