Talking Stick/Talking Circle: Youth, Nonviolence,
Mediation & Teambuilding
For over 10 years, the
Call for Peace Talking Stick/Talking Circle program has been
providing participants with an open and accepting
communication forum, receiving support and acclaim from both
educators and parents in the Madison Metropolitan School
District and throughout the greater Wisconsin area. During the
workshop, participants make and decorate their own
talking stick from natural materials (shells, feathers,
rocks, etc.) provided by the facilitator and either a stick
they have brought with them, or one the participants find
outside, that is representative of their individuality and
life story. Participants learn about the tradition surrounding
the talking circle and use the circle to discuss problems they
all share, the environment, conflict resolution and things that are
important to their future. Only the individual holding a marked
feather is allowed to speak during the project, and the feather is
passed continuously until everyone who wishes to speak has
done so. If the group is working with a conflict, the talk continues
until consensus can be reached and all participants are asked to
respect the solution, as they helped to reach it together
and agreed to it without coercion. Participants learn how to use
the Talking Stick and the Talking Circle to resolve interpersonal,
inter-group, intra-group, and other conflicts in a nonviolent manner.
The activity works to empower participants through
positive communication based on respect: everyone has a
voice, all voices are unique and all voices are important.
The talking stick ensures that no one voice will prevail
over others.
Please click here to download our informational brochure.
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