Underlying Contradictions The focus of the Underlying Contradictions workshop is analysis. The underlying contradictions workshop asks the question: What are the Issues Blocking Us From Realizing Our Vision? Honest dialogue is required for this clear-headed analysis of the organization’s issues. The group’s analysis of contradictions is at the heart of this workshop. Participants grappled with the issues and obstacles blocking the 3E Team’s Vision for desirable, appropriate and accountable systems of tribal governance and determined that there were four underlying contradictions. These are shown in the swirl on the next page moving from the most distracting at the center to the least distracting. Underlying Contradictions Data W E H AVE A D ISPROPORTIONATE D ISTRIBUTION O F A UTHORITY D EFINED B Y O UR C URRENT G OVERNMENTAL S YSTEM C AUSING P EOPLE TO F EEL D ISENFRANCHISED & L IKE T HEY H AVE N O V OICE  Electoral politics have resulted in apathy & broken promises  Division / fragmentation cause hindrance to decision-making  Casual indifference to most matters that don’t directly affect money $$$  Unfamiliar with the process and purpose of the constitution  Unintentional abandonment of Anishinaabe Izhitwaawin leaves disillusionment  Disrespect stifles positive progress  Fear of responsibility: taking action / risk; being judged; failures; learning  Fear of change – we prefer the status quo  Fear of retribution  Squeaky wheels get the attention and action when others can’t get help, info, etc.  Conditioned to believe one way W E A RE M IRED I N N ON -A NISHINAABE S YSTEMS O F L EADERSHIP T HAT F OSTER G REED & A RE D ISCONNECTED F ROM T HE P EOPLE  Unclear vision disorganized  Tribal Councils have made decisions without consensus of the people  Unintentional decision-making leaves us with more problems  Conflicting interpretations of the constitution, etc.  Misguided leadership impacts us all  Greed, rather than the good of the people, influences policy  Silo’d, inconsistent, inter- / intra- communication leaves people confused  Obsolete government docs hinder participation  Disproportionate resources create resentment among our people S PORADIC , D ISJOINTED E FFORTS T O S ECURE O UR T REATY R IGHTS L IMIT R ESOURCES & M AKE U S V ULNERABLE T O O NGOING T RAUMA  Broken treaties have caused disruption in all systems  The reservation cannot sustain all its enrollees so people live off reservation  Historical trauma spurs substance abuse thus broken families and poverty  Dependent government have caused us to doubt our sovereignty  Tribal government support of Treaty Rights is sporadic & given little attention over time I MPOSED W ESTERN E DUCATION S YSTEMS P ERPETUATE E THNOCIDE B Y D ISMANTLING O UR W AYS & C ULTURAL V ALUES  Education systems are based in Western culture & have caused great damage to our communities  Outdated & unrealistic education systems stifle “knowledge”  Inconsistent knowledge or truth  State curriculum supersedes our Teachings  Devaluation of culture & language  We’re incomplete – we’ve abandoned our collective circle Contradictions “Swirl” The issues identified are plotted onto this swirl with those that are the most distracting at the center and working their way outward: W E A RE MIRED I N N ON-A NISHINAABE S YSTEMS O F L EADERSHIP T HAT FOSTER G REED & A RE DISCONNECTED F ROM T HE P EOPLE I MPOSED W E HAVE A W ESTERN DISPROPORTIONATE E DUCATION DISTRIBUTION O F A UTHORITY S YSTEMS DEFINED B Y O UR CURRENT P ERPETUATE G OVERNMENTAL S YSTEM E THNOCIDE B Y CAUSING P EOPLE TO F EEL DISMANTLING DISENFRANCHISED & L IKE O UR W AYS & T HEY HAVE N O V OICE CULTURAL V ALUES S PORADIC , DISJOINTED E FFORTS T O S ECURE O UR T REATY R IGHTS L IMIT R ESOURCES & MAKE US V ULNERABLE T O O NGOING T RAUMA