Brothers,

During the national I-Group Coordinator conference this last month, several items of interest were discussed. They ran the gamut from future NWTAs (more later), to training opportunities, to communications and the flow of information. It was a full weekend with lots of good ideas.

One was about the position of I-Group rep and the responsibilities the position carries. It’s good information and makes the duties of the rep very clear. I went into the position without knowing all that it entailed, so I want to pass this information along to others who might be in the same boat. You can find it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HMyYfE3Lx8vSa4cj7AmJtRsbfvFynlEEywslmeh-5Jg/edit#heading=h.7z3r3p6x0dzc 

The pertinent information is in section five of this document, please forward to the reps in your area.

Another topic was around Cultural Appropriation. MKP is treating this very seriously and taking great steps to rectify the harms done to First Nation, and Indigenous peoples, regarding this issue. One change from the work being done will be the inclusion of “observers” on NWTAs. They will be there to inform and help the communities grasp the significance of the icons, language and processes that MKP has borrowed from other cultures. And to make sure that the new procedures are being recognized and followed. Think of it as paying homage to those who have come before us. You can find a link to the recorded presentation of this piece here:

There is an introduction by MKP USA Chairman Darryl Hansome. The good stuff begins at roughly the 10:40 mark. The entire video is about 45 minutes.

A chunk of time was spent on Intercultural Advocacy and  Competency. There are some great training opportunities on MKP.connect dealing with Intercultural and related subject matter. Dan Baldwin had a great comment, and I’m paraphrasing here: Intercultural competency is not about shame or blame. It is about learning of other ways, other identities. It’s about understanding and awareness of others. Powerful words, and appropriate for our time. I think Dan’s words conveys the intent of these trainings very well. You can find a link to the recorded presentation of this piece here:

This video is about 25 ½ minutes. Again, the good stuff begins at roughly the 10 minute mark.

The idea of what I’ll call communication integrity, for lack of better phrasing, was also discussed. It is the idea of creating an agreement that men will to respond, when necessary, within a specified time period, say 48 hours. That way the information flow is unimpeded. If you haven’t already, you might consider setting up an agreement to respond in a timely fashion.

Training opportunities were discussed at length. There is a Core Series of trainings offered to Warriors, designed to ease the transition into the MKP community. These are things such as PIT trainings, I-Group leadership skills training, facilitation skills training, and conflict resolution training.  Several of these would benefit men already sitting in I-Group. Because of the pandemic, opportunities were lost to bring new men into the Project. To reverse this, a series of trainings were created to expose new men to the Work. There are multiple online trainings designed exclusively for new men to help acquaint them with what we do and to ease their passage into the NWTA. All of these trainings can be found on MKP.connect on the trainings and programs tab.

Lastly, the topic of NWTAs. Things are beginning to open up! According to MKPUSA chair Darryl Hansome, NWTAs are already on the books for spring and early summer. And, as you saw in Steve Newcomb’s letter, some are tentatively (now determined) on the books for the Northwest. More information will be forthcoming, but for now, know that things are moving forward in this regard. They might not look the same, but they will happen.

Kelly Staines

Golden Retriever