Bicultural encounter

ABSTRACT

This article discusses large group encounter in the context of biculturalism, a concept that is specific to the relationship and engagement between indigenous and settler cultures, especially, though not exclusively in countries such as Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States of America. It is written by five colleagues who work in the same tertiary educational institution, albeit in different roles. The discussion is framed in the context both of person-centered approaches to encounter and of group analytic approaches to large groups. It is illustrated with reference to a practice of community kōrero (speech, discussion, conversation), and a way of facilitating a group theory and practice paper (class), following which the last two parts of the article offer some critical reflections on the interface between culture, specifically in a bicultural context, and encounter.

Rencontre biculturelle

Cet article discute de la rencontre en grand groupe dans le contexte du biculturalisme, un concept qui est spécifique à la relation et l’engagement entre les cultures des indigènes et des colons, spécifiquement, mais pas exclusivement dans des régions telles que Aotearoa Nouvelle-Zélande, le Canada et les États-Unis d’Amérique. Il est écrit par cinq collègues qui travaillent dans la même institution éducative mais qui occupent différents rôles. La discussion à propos de grands groupes est conduite à la fois dans le contexte de la rencontre telle que l’envisagent les approches centrées sur la personne et selon des approches analytiques de groupe. Il est illustré en référence à la pratique de la communauté kōrero (discours, discussion, conversation), et à une manière de faciliter un groupe théorique et pratique (classe). Dans la lignée, les deux dernières parties de l’article offrent quelques réflexions critiques sur l’interface entre culture, spécifiquement dans un contexte biculturel, et rencontre.

Bi-kulturelles Encounter

Zusammenfassung: Dieser Artikel diskutiert Grossgruppen-Encounter im Kontext von Bi-Kulturalismus, einem Konzept, das für die Beziehung und das Engagement zwischen indigenen und Siedler-Kulturen spezifisch ist, insbesondere, wenn auch nicht exklusiv, in Ländern wie Aotearoa Neuseeland, Australien, Kanada und die USA. Verfasst haben den Artikel fünf Kolleg*innen, die in derselben tertiären Bildungseinrichtung arbeiten, wenn auch in verschiedenen Rollen. Die Diskussion ist sowohl im Kontext Personzentrierter Ansätze für Encounter als auch im Kontext von gruppenanalytischen Ansätzen für Grossgruppen angesiedelt. Als Beispiele dienen eine Praxis von Gemeinschafts-kōrero (Rede, Diskussion, Gespräch) und eine Variante, einen Gruppentheorie-und–praxis-Artikel zu unterstützen. Die letzten beiden Passagen des Artikels bieten ein paar kritische Reflexionen zur Schnittstelle zwischen Kultur, insbesondere in einem bi-kulturellen Kontext, und dem Encounter.

Encuentro bicultural

Este escrito discute los grupos de encuentros numerosos en el contexto del bicultutalismo, un concepto que es especifico de la relacion y compromiso entre llturas de los indigenas y colonos. especialmente, aunque no exclusivamente en países como Aotearoa Nueva Zelanda, Australia, Canadá y los Estados Unidos de América. Está escrito por cinco colegas que trabajan en la misma institución de educación terciaria, aunque en diferentes roles. La discusión se enmarca en el contexto de los enfoques de encuentro centrados en la persona y de los enfoques analíticos de grupo para grupos grandes. Se ilustra con referencia a una práctica de kōrero comunitario (discurso, discusión, conversación) y una forma de facilitar un documento de teoría y práctica grupal (clase), luego de lo cual las dos últimas partes del artículo ofrecen algunas reflexiones críticas sobre la interfaz. Entre la cultura, concretamente en un contexto bicultural, y el encuentro.

Encontro bicultural

Este artigo debate grandes grupos de encontro no contexto do biculturalismo, um conceito específico das relações e compromisso entre culturas indígenas e de colonizadores, particularmente, se bem que não em exclusivo, em países como a Aotearoa Nova Zelândia, Austrália, Canadá e Estados Unidos da América. O artigo foi escrito por colegas que trabalham na mesma instituição de ensino terciário, ainda que em diferentes funções. A discussão é contextualizada quer pelas abordagens centradas na pessoa do encontro, como pelas abordagens analíticas a grandes grupos. Ele é ilustrado com referência à prática do kōrero da comunidade (discurso, discussão, conversa) e uma forma de facilitar a teoria de grupo e um papel de treino (turma), depois do qual as duas últimas partes do artigo fornecem algumas reflexões críticas acerca da interface entre cultura – especificamente no contexto bicultural – e encontro.

KEYWORDS:

• Bicultural
• encounter
• cross-cultural dialog

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maria Haenga-Collins

Maria Haenga-Collins has a background in social work, Māori-centered research, and history. As a social worker (kaimanaaki) Maria was employed by Capital & Coast District Health Board to work in a specialist community mental health team with young people experiencing first episode psychosis. As an oral historian Maria has specific experience in working with Indigenous Peoples.

Margot Solomon

Margot Solomon is an educator, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and a group analytic therapist. Her areas of interest include teaching and learning, psychoanalytic theory, group psychotherapy, clinical supervision and qualitative research especially hermeneutic phenomenology. Margot has a small private psychoanalytic practice working with individuals and groups for psychotherapy and supervision.

Wiremu Woodard

Wiremu Woodard is an Indigenous therapist, father of four, activist, environmentalist, sometimes contemporary dancer and artist. Wiremu is committed to reducing health disparities for Māori and promoting social justice. He currently works in community practice at Kereru and teaches on Psychotherapy and Counseling programmes at Auckland University of Technology. Wiremu is a founding member of Waka Oranga - a group of dynamic Indigenous Māori practitioners committed to emancipatory freedom.

Brian Rodgers

Brian Rodgers is a senior lecturer and currently head of the Discipline of Psychotherapy & Counselling at Auckland University of Technology. His primary research interest focuses on the outcomes of mental health interventions, in particular in counselling and psychotherapy. He is Chair of the Scientific Committee of PCE2020 the the 14th international conference of the World Association of Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapy & Counseling, which takes place next July in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, and which will be preceded by a bicultural encounter group.

Keith Tudor

Keith Tudor is professor of psychotherapy at Auckland University of Technology. He is a qualified social worker and psychotherapist. He is the editor of Psychotherapy and Politics International, and for six years was the coeditor, of Ata: Journal of Psychotherapy Aotearoa New Zealand. He is the author and editor of over 300 peer-reviewed publications, including 15 books.  Keith is Chair of the Organizing Committee of PCE2020.