Nature of Hosting

Gateway: Moments of arriving

Hosting begins well before the guests arrive. How to prepare for the moment when your guests first step out of one world and into another? In this episode, we hear stories of preparing, arriving and welcoming at the gate.

shalan joudry speaks of welcoming visitors to Stone Bear Tracks in Bear River First Nation and Margaret Drescher talks about her own first arrival at Windhorse on the South Shore. In Unama’ki/Cape Breton, Amber Buchanan brings the Gaelic ceilidh to life and Elder Albert Marshall reminds us of what is most important when planning any gathering. We end with “For Those Who Have Forgotten Humility,” written and spoken by shalan joudry.

River: Flow and resilience

In spring, the river is fresh, full and almost overflowing—held by its banks and sometimes needing to create new pathways. How can we invite fullness, flow and vitality into our gatherings?

Chester Borden takes us inside the bustle of the Whitney Pier Youth Club. Slyvia Parris-Drummond and Toria Aidoo talk about what they value most about gatherings in their Afrocentric communities. Brook Thorndycraft, Tyler Colbourne, Helene Branch and Duncan Ebata all share experiences of hosting spaces that are safe-enough, playful and nourishing. We close with Coco Love Alcorn singing her beautiful song, The River. 

Forest: Fields of generosity

What can we learn from the forest about restoring and sustaining the well-being and resilience of communities?

Jim Drescher points to the forest as a natural, living field of generosity which arises when each species and individual is simply being itself. Aimee Gasparetto and Frances Palliser-Nicholas talk about a reconciliation-in-action project in North End Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Jennifer DeCoste shares the inspiration behind Life.School.House, and Anke Kungl talks about the role of good food. Jim closes with his personal practice of allowing himself to be hosted by the land.

Fire: Holding the circle

A fire provides warmth and safety, a place to share stories on a cold, dark night. It can also become threatening when out of control. How can we include anxiety, grief and the heat of conflict in our gatherings as well as the need for belonging and connection?

shalan joudry takes us inside the wigwam at Stone Bear Tracks. Elder Albert Marshall and Toria Aidoo talk about stories as windows into one another's lives. Brook Thorndycraft, Madonna Doucette, Basia Solarz, and Sylvia Parris talk about holding difficult (and often needed) conversations. Robert S. Wright and James Dube invite us to sit by the fire as we learn how to recognize trauma, and especially white trauma, in ourselves and our gatherings.

Wind: Power of the invisible

Wind is made visible by the movement of leaves and clouds. Our own breath mixes with wind, and with the breath of the forest and all creatures. As we close our series, we recall that gatherings have impact far beyond what we can see. We release some of our wildest dreams into the wind.

Jennifer DeCoste, Anke Kungl, Toria Aidoo, Sylvia Drummond-Parris, Duncan Ebata and Helene Branch share their wildest dreams. shalan joudry closes the gathering at Stone Bear Tracks by exchanging gifts and thanking the forest. Elder Opolahsomuwehs leaves us with a teaching on ancestral breath and invites us to join in singing the Friendship Song, which has no words.