Spiralling with Sandy-Saulteaux

Spiralling with Sandy-Saulteaux

On Monday morning Janet Ross and Scott Douglas from CCS joined the Educational Methods learning circle of the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre to talk about the CCS Action-Reflection Spiral.

The Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre (SSSC) is our sister United Church theological school based on the banks of the Brokenhead River near Beausejour, Manitoba. The Sandy-Saulteaux Centre trains people from across the country for Indigenous leadership roles and ministries in the United Church of Canada and other churches. Sandy-Saulteaux and CCS have had a close connection for many years, and Janet and Scott were very happy to continue deepening that relationship.

Many of our alumni and former students will be familiar with “the Spiral” – the tool that CCS has used and refined over decades. The Spiral model invites individuals and groups to pay attention to their concrete experiences, to reflectively observe their own and others reactions, responses, and wonderings, to make connections with theories, theologies, traditions, and stories through abstract conceptualization, and then to take action in some way. It is a model that emphasizes balance, wholeness, and engagement. The Sandy-Saulteaux students seemed to find value in the Spiral as a tool for learning and for teaching.

Janet Ross (top left) with the SSSC Educational Methods learning circle

It was a joy to see familiar faces in the circle – elder Judy Delorme, keeper of the circle Adrian Jacobs, and keeper of the learning circle Susie McPherson-Derendy – and to meet new Sandy-Saulteaux students and the Centre’s new second keeper of the learning circle, Diane Meredith. We always appreciate being with the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre and look forward to future opportunities to work together.

Comments: 2

  1. We were so grateful to have such qualified fun resource people to lead us in this new learning. I found it fascinating and it has opened up new possibilities for doing solid reflection. I also found the entire notion of spirals in nature and in our world fascinating. I know we found it challenging in a good way. It will be a good tool to use for further problem-solving and insights into issues. Thank you so much Scott and Janet!

  2. Joyce Johnston says:

    I enjoyed it immensely. Wish it could have been longer. You were both great facilitators, teachers, proving a tool to help us see, ourselves. I must admit I have a problem with silence, among other short comings, however, it does help. Hope you both have a great month come December, and best wishes for a fruitful New Year.

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