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Working Better Together: Collaborating with Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples · Grassroots Gossip

• 0:05
  Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to Grassroots Crossep.
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: This is a series of conversations led by rural development experts, to promote exchange learning... ...and the sharing of innovative ideas and approaches.
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: My name is Ulrich Klins And we at GIZ present these discussions that focus on interactive methods & new strategies To foster more effective and successful collaborations with Indigenous people.. ..And local communities.
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: Today We are heading to South Africa's honey bush field but this is not a story about tea, it's very different approach to better collaborate with indigenous people and local communities.
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: Joining me is Inge.
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: she works in the Aviosa project in South Africa and dared to slow down things and listen!
• 0:54
  Speaker 0: Hello Ulrich thank you for having me here.
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: let's start with the plant itself.
• 1:02
  Speaker 1: So what is honeybush and why is it important to people in this region?
• 1:09
  Speaker 0: Honeybush is a common name of an indigenous species that grows from the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa.
• 1:17
  Speaker 0: It has twenty-three species in it which seven are made for tea.
• 1:25
  Speaker 0: It is a wonderful tea in the sense that it's sweet flavour honey and the local community call it Johanna Tea.
• 1:33
  Speaker 0: And sometimes they even refer to where it's harvested, so for example if its up in the mountains then we'll called it Berthiae ,and when it's down on the wetlands there are called it Flaetiae.
• 1:44
  Speaker 0: One of things which has been part their lives is how this tea gives them many benefits.
• 1:54
  Speaker 0: woman that was in this project, which we're going to talk about later told us how she bathed her child with tea and it definitely helped an enormous amount take care of the eczema.
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: That sounds like a very interesting plant!
• 2:15
  Speaker 1: Now let's have look at the project... It wasn't usual.
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: So what did you notice that was not working in the usual GIZ and other projects?
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: Something which perhaps incomplete or missing.
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: And, What do want to solve our
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: address?".
• 2:33
  Speaker 0: Well it certainly wasn't a usual project but break from norm.
• 2:39
  Speaker 0: I think most large break form of norm if we'd like put it this way is fact no agenda.
• 2:47
  Speaker 0: We literally went with a design process of engagement over a period of time, where we met with the local community and Indigenous people.
• 3:01
  Speaker 0: And basically asked them what had brought them to these gatherings?
• 3:06
  Speaker 0: What they were curious about in terms of Honeybush!
• 3:11
  Speaker 0: We together explored.
• 3:14
  Speaker 0: that meant And with that exploration, we explored what could became the project's content and what we needed to look at together.
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: So in a yes indeed this is a bit of different approach.
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: so how did you do it now?
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: You come up with no agenda... What else did you have done which was completely different?
• 3:40
  Speaker 0: Well We didn't go in with an attitude of, we're going to come fix things or...we've got some expertise to give you that would solve any problems.
• 3:50
  Speaker 0: So it was really an open-mindedness and being very receptive to what we would find when we met the people in the project.
• 4:00
  Speaker 0: so there was a reliance on relations created and formed Explored together as I said earlier, but what was most unusual?
• 4:15
  Speaker 0: Was that it became quite clear That even though we all hold only a part of the system or What we see is part of reality.
• 4:25
  Speaker 0: It wasn't our perceptions that were The source of conflict in this case But rather unmet expectations.
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: Okay when we discussed about this project prior to session here.
• 4:41
  Speaker 1: You often say this phrase, it's their intelligent not ours sounds like a strong idea but what does is really mean in practice?
• 4:52
  Speaker 0: Really in practice means that you recognize and give acknowledgement and acceptance to The other persons and in this case the communities lived experience.
• 5:03
  Speaker 0: How they perceived it, how they've got to know things and how they give expression to that.
• 5:09
  Speaker 0: so It really became something That we together found ourselves In a relationship of exchange that shaped us as well as shape the project And by doing that there was such a mutual respectful atmosphere and exchange of intelligence, if you'd like to call it that.
• 5:32
  Speaker 0: That was really much about what they perceived in how they would want to express it?
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: Okay let's go for an example... If we talk about the atmosphere perhaps you can describe a bit when you started the workshops.
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: now How did It Go?
• 5:54
  Speaker 0: Well, if I had to give an example.
• 5:56
  Speaker 0: The most significant was the first gathering where we asked the Koisan leadership as well as local communities To show us how they'd go about greeting and welcoming people into their community And showed a way of greeting which was really so marvellous to actually feel this experience together.
• 6:25
  Speaker 0: And it became sort of quite easy, to really realise that their way of doing things and the welcoming of us including these practices... ...of greeting, welcoming how one speaks who first speaks next.... Really opened up such a different understanding about how one can relate and in a sense become a kinship network.
• 6:55
  Speaker 0: And so this was very different experience for all of us, and through that, a mutuality arose that I think is at the heart of Axis Benefit sharing many what we aspire to into such an natural way of emerging it.
• 7:12
  Speaker 1: So what you're explaining a bit Inge the usual approach of projects, they don't see it.
• 7:20
  Speaker 1: It's not visible to them.
• 7:22
  Speaker 1: and through this way of working together respecting each other something became visible.
• 7:28
  Speaker 1: is that correct?
• 7:31
  Speaker 1: And if so what was invisible at first and now become visible through this new approach?
• 7:39
  Speaker 0: Well, yes.
• 7:40
  Speaker 0: It was actually something that we all observed and I think it was something that you couldn't name at first because this is something that were created together in the relational field.
• 7:51
  Speaker 0: so as soon as those exchanges went along with each other more and more certain creativity or curiosity would be part of how we were together, in the sense that we had a visual artist.
• 8:08
  Speaker 0: That would capture what people had said and new forms began to appear... People started to use their own idioms ...people used their own expressions or similes .
• 8:20
  Speaker 0: And so away the irrational field between us and around us expanded ,and once this became robust if you like, and we all became familiar with it.
• 8:33
  Speaker 0: It actually had a way of showing up in such a way that... We all began to see something else was coming through And we could eventually name that.
• 8:45
  Speaker 0: Its'a bit like sculpture taking a piece of clay and starts to form the sculpture not knowing exactly what's going be out there outcome but You can see that something is coming though
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: Very interesting approach, so it seems to be a lot to do with the way of hosting.
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: The art-of-community hosting perhaps?
• 9:08
  Speaker 1: Being present and listening... Perhaps you can take us into room for such gathering and perhaps first meetings and interactions.
• 9:18
  Speaker 1: how did go about that?
• 9:21
  Speaker 0: You're quite right!
• 9:22
  Speaker 0: It wasn't the normal norm of facilitation.
• 9:25
  Speaker 0: And we called it a hosting with very deliberate way because for us, It was more about how We listen to each other but also how we receive what we are listening too and How we together start to create A Way For What is being said To be held.
• 9:45
  Speaker 0: not Too quickly to respond But ready to Be present and present in sense of attention, we began to understand the difference between hosting and facilitation.
• 9:59
  Speaker 0: And how that influences what the group feels safe doing?
• 10:04
  Speaker 0: To speak into the room...and as this became much more The mode Of How We Went On it sort of Became What We Really Found As Common way of speaking to each other and so we created something that we call the art community hosting.
• 10:29
  Speaker 1: The Art of Community Hosting I can imagine has a lot also do with traditional ways how the people do it, and I know that you were very fond of The Ritual.
• 10:42
  Speaker 1: So perhaps you can tell us a bit about that power Of THE RITUAL what it meant for the group And How It Looked Like?
• 10:49
  Speaker 0: The ritual was indeed A gift and Huge Honour to be Experienced Also For To Be Taught.
• 10:57
  Speaker 0: When we first invited and met People Close To The Land We Asked Them You Know How Would They Go About holding this kind of workshop, and as I mentioned before they taught us how to greet a need.
• 11:11
  Speaker 0: But then there also taught us the ritual which was an incredible way of setting the whole workshop area in different tones but at same time it is what actually bonded all together.
• 11:27
  Speaker 0: So the ritual that they exposed us to was from an ancient ritual from the Khoisan and it was a purification ritual.
• 11:35
  Speaker 0: It cleared air, there burned a plant called koi-khut in kuduhorns as smoke from the kudu horns and walk around this circle ended.
• 11:50
  Speaker 0: we all felt that this was a way of sealing what was in the room and it also gave reverence to what is going.
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: I mean governments were involved, private sector was involved and they're doing a ritual.
• 12:14
  Speaker 1: And then i can imagine people perhaps smiled laughed didn't take it for serious.
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: so there are tourists now.
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: how did they take it?
• 12:21
  Speaker 1: Now what does that mean for the other actors if we have part of a ritual.
• 12:27
  Speaker 0: I would totally agree with you, Uli.
• 12:28
  Speaker 0: If i hadn't been part of this...I probably have said to your yes it was sort-of a form of entertainment but It wasn't.
• 12:35
  Speaker 0: and the reason I think that it wasn't is because so authentic as well something that had grown from generation to generation in leadership invited us into actually be part of his ritual.
• 12:49
  Speaker 0: we're so compassionate inclusive.
• 12:55
  Speaker 0: it was so sincere that we, I don't think anyone would have not crossed anyones mind to have thought this is supposed to be something to be laughed at because it drew you in.
• 13:06
  Speaker 0: It drew us all-in and um... In such a way that We really realized that were becoming friends.
• 13:15
  Speaker 0: And as we Landed up in the inn, calling ourselves friends of Honeybush.
• 13:20
  Speaker 0: I think The Ritual was a huge part In actually bringing that about.
• 13:26
  Speaker 1: Yeah because it sealed It Very good.
• 13:29
  Speaker 1: i'm getting more and More curious here.
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: So what happened then?
• 13:32
  Speaker 1: Now you said this You sealed it!
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: The meeting Was there.
• 13:35
  Speaker 1: people were Respecting each other.
• 13:38
  Speaker 1: What Happened when People came together?
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: Did they really Work Together or how did They react?
• 13:44
  Speaker 0: There was a way of responding that was in-of itself, a willingness to accept another person.
• 13:56
  Speaker 0: So it is also...that was the sense of acceptance but there's always a sense of allowing other reality be valid and to accept.
• 14:09
  Speaker 0: one had bring many worlds together and so it became a way that...it really was easy, brought in such an ease of relating.
• 14:23
  Speaker 0: That people I think really and truly for the first time experienced what it really means to be in a room together.
• 14:34
  Speaker 0: even if you had governmental roles or private sector roles, You could ease into the relationship that was forming and not have to take on your usual role.
• 14:46
  Speaker 0: And stand your usual ground of speech...you actually can listen what is happening and respond to what's emerging.
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: That sounds a bit like a pluriverse of realities but it's our episode is getting closer to the end.
• 15:02
  Speaker 1: But before we do this, I would like you to navigate or conversation a bit towards what you call The Wayfinder and of course ask your what?
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: What Is This Wayfinder And How Is This Art Of Community Hosting Connect To Something Like A Wayfinder & Is It Teachable Can Be Transferred?
• 15:25
  Speaker 0: We find very much that it was teachable, Uli because It's very intuitive.
• 15:30
  Speaker 0: The art of community hosting and all that I've shared in our conversation now is something That really organically comes together And the Wayfinder we thought would be a useful aid to actually set A map how you can navigate All this relational field.
• 15:49
  Speaker 0: so the wayfinder is can be done on its own, but it's a way to actually surface the possibilities that the group may see and together decide to get behind.
• 16:01
  Speaker 1: Inge I'm almost sorry.
• 16:03
  Speaker 1: we have come to end of this first part of our conversations But there are more coming in next session where we discuss the Wayfinder in detail ,but also how enabled stakeholders in negotiations & contracts.
• 16:16
  Speaker 1: Thank you for listening And if that got you thinking and would like to connect with us, please write it down using the details mentioned here.