Bridging Tensions: Reflections on the Gathering
By: Gayathri Shukla and Kelli Stevens, August 22, 2024
It has been just over a year (to the day!) since two of the event’s organizers and facilitators began working together and we are using this anniversary to share reflections on what we aimed to accomplish and the work that still remains – some of which will be the subject of future Gatherings.
Tension and trust. These two words stand out as we reflect on Suncor Energy Foundation’s (SEF) annual event called “The Gathering.” Among other things, SEF supports social innovation and its employees are aware of the diverse perspectives that some people hold about the energy industry.
As the corporate foundation connected to Suncor Energy, SEF has been operating for more than 25 years. Through partnerships, donations, and relationships with people and organizations from across multiple sectors, SEF aims to spark positive social change for generations ahead.
As part of that effort, SEF has been bringing people together to connect more deeply while considering 21st century challenges and opportunities. No matter the setting – from the beautiful Sleeping Buffalo Mountain, to an office tower, to online – most participants typically come away from the event with thoughtful insights about themselves and others.
In recent years, participants in the Gatherings have expressed a desire to see involvement from Suncor the company. Attendees have appreciated the Gathering’s space to do their own “inner work” and personal development, but have also called for more Suncor employees to attend Gatherings and join conversations about social and environmental concerns.
As with past Gatherings, the most recent iteration of the event endeavored to bridge the tension of inner and outer transformation – inviting SEF community partners into closer relationship with some employees at Suncor, while inviting all participants into a journey of reflection through a range of creative practices and teachings.
Kelli Stevens (Manager, Suncor Energy Foundation):
Holding space for new bonds to form amongst people from corporate, charitable, post-secondary, and other backgrounds (and in the face of what often feels like ever-growing polarization) feels continually daunting. It also feels necessary. Fortunately, by working with people from outside our SEF team to co-design and co-host these events, we get to share in both the effort and the reward of asking big questions that can help change the way we think and act.
The impact of the Gathering is best felt rather than quantified. Heartfelt feedback, such as that received from participants in response to a post-event survey, speaks volumes:
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to learn different ways of thinking, specifically about storytelling, Metissage, how to connect with the land, and Indigenous Relational Systems thinking. I think there was much to take away from the Gatherings, and I think I am most appreciative of the opportunity to connect with others, ‘shed’ any masks and see each other as human beings. It felt great being able to express myself, and say things that were on my mind with a group of people I had come to know over the few days we were together. This helped me be more expressive and engage better with others during my Strategic Planning meetings happening at work.”
And this one:
“I think the Gathering was successful in providing an opportunity for participants to slow down and look inwards as well as outwards to nature and our fellow participants. It provided an opportunity for participants to share their thoughts, feelings and emotions if they chose to and it’s something that is rarely done in a work-related context.”
These kinds of comments go a long way toward our recognition that coming together can affect how we show up and support each other. While a Gathering might not change an entire company or resolve today’s ongoing crises, it feels hopeful to know that we can address the tensions together.
Gayathri Shukla (Co-host for the Gathering, and first-time participant):
When I first got the call about co-hosting the Gathering, I knew that this experience had to take participants through a journey of both creating and of letting go. Of building tension within a container of trust. Of inviting people to share and of recognizing the sacredness in that sharing.
Many of us learn to navigate the world by disassociating from ourselves, from each other and even the Earth. It shows up in the way we perform, power through, push past the many small and big injustices we see in the world, just so we can survive. But if we can be reminded even for a moment of our unity in shared humanity, we can then build the stamina to ask the big questions, and make space to work through the messy, uncomfortable process of change.
So, I decided to design an event that at its core, reminded people of their interconnectedness. I had heard about a creative, story-weaving process called “Narrative Métissage” (see, e.g., p. 233 here) and decided to weave this method into the structure of the Gathering.
Then, it all unfolded over 4 days…
We listened to songs, ceremony, and deeply respected Indigenous wisdom, including from Grandmother Francine (an Algonquin Elder, traditional knowledge keeper and medicine woman), Dr. Melanie Goodchild, and Dr. Mike Lickers. To this day, I recall Grandmother Francine’s moving Water Ceremony, Dr. Melanie Goodchild’s invitation to spend time on the land, and Dr. Mike Lickers’ teaching that witnessing means opening yourself to the truth of others, and allowing yourself and others to be changed by it.
We witnessed stories of a deep yearning to connect with the land, with nature, animals, seasons, with change itself.
We shared lived experiences on topics like self-care, psychological safety, belonging, and unity.
We felt the passion and urgency to transform for social and environmental justice.
And we heard poetry…beautiful, flowing poetry. With permission from one of the groups, we are pleased to include at the end of this blog a Métissage titled “Reasons Why,” a collective reflection on the theme posed to all groups: “If not now, when?” We gratefully acknowledge the group members for their contribution, including Francine Wong Zentner, Rochelle Ignacio, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, and others who wish to remain anonymous.
As we conclude this chapter of the Gathering, we urge you, dear reader, to embrace the “messiness” of complexity in your own endeavors and to bear witness to the stories around you. Together, let’s continue to create spaces for connection, growth, and transformation.
Metissage: Reasons Why
Transforming systems.
When the kids are older…
Embedding equity.
When hockey is over…
Representation in decision-making.
When things slow down…
In the relentless pursuit of justice and advocating for the rights of others, the notion of prioritizing my own well-being can feel like an elusive luxury.
The fire was burning too high and bright for too long
Burning out, I am ash and ember
Shifting to greener practices.
When the environment feels safer…
Community engagement.
When things feel more stable…
Giving back, donating, volunteering.
When I have the time…
When to take a risk – if not now, when?
When to step back and take a break – if not now, when?
When is it time to make a change and do something different – if not now, when?
My life has been dedicated to supporting those who depend on me for their survival, well-being, and solidarity.
Taking a break can inadvertently feel like a concession, a moment where I am absent when people need me the most.
I am choking on smoke.
I step away for air, inhale and exhale.
Advocacy.
When we have money in the bank…
Goal setting.
When we have no more responsibilities…
Responding to that one email.
When we are in perfect health…
In a world filled with ever-evolving priorities and the constant demand for productivity, finding that moment of rest becomes a profound challenge. My mind has become the battleground where the decision between self-care and unwavering commitment to others takes place.
It burns being so close to the flame.
I step back to cool down.
(Timing may never feel right or perfect.)
Centering voices of community.
When the time feels right…
Prioritizing care and relationships.
When I feel “caught up”…
Truth and reconciliation.
When we get older…
This internal conflict is a universal challenge that many of us face, one that underscores the importance of finding a balance between our dedication to the causes we hold dear and the need to preserve our own well-being.
But what’s holding us back? What is within our control versus outside of it? If we don’t take control of our own destinies – if not now, when?
I build my own fire this time.
I search for tinder and lay down a bed of kindling.
Rest.
When the universe tells us…
Learning, growing, innovating.
When we look, feel, achieve, and become…
Filling our own cups.
In a world of busyness
Of competing priorities.
Healing.
In times of polarization.
(When do we make time for transformation?)
When we have no more time.
As we waste away cell by cell,
layer by layer, inch by inch,
disappearing into space.
We wait, we wait, we wait.
(If not now, it might be never!)
It is in this equilibrium that we can become even more effective in our mission, as we find the strength to navigate the complex terrain of activism with resilience and purpose.
I strike the match and mix fire with air.
I rekindle the flame, it’s small, but it’s mine.