Discussions
Conversations : Round Table : Consensus
The Inuksuk: Coming to Consensus
This is a continuation of the transcript of a taped conversation. The
teacher is in bold print.
If each of you were to take one word after all of this conversation,
just one word or a phrase that would be critical and associated to the
Inuksuk.
 I think it would be hard to put it into one word or one phrase, can
we all agree, what will that process be? I think we need to discuss
as we go, - Defender of the passing culture, because even if the culture dies
off the Inuksuk will stand for the meaning of the culture.
- Tradition, respect or religion a guardian for ones self.
- I think the book, “Silent Messenger” best describes the
Inuksuk.
- I think it is a remembrance.
- Either honor or harmony.
- I thought of importance.
- Messenger, perhaps a unique message to each person. Perhaps we could
make a rough message and each person who comes this way will interpret
it their own way as they encounter the Inuksuk.
- The way you see it could be different because they all see it different,
we could look at it as a gift from the past that keeps on giving.
Some may think it is thanks for living in a beautiful place and some
may think
it sets goals for the future and some might think of something we
haven’t
even thought of.
- I think it would be important to the school because whoever comes
could come to it as a place similar to a sanctuary.
- I think it has to do with discipline too.
- Maybe we should use all of our ideas and then interpret it as they
want or as meaning arises as long as they don’t harm it.
Do you mean use it as meaning arises?
- Everyone has their own word to describe it.
We all interpret things in a way that makes meaning for us as individuals
and what I hear you saying is that symbol has to make sense for each
person in their own way. The question then becomes, how can we have
that message be understood. What about the silent messages or the silent
messenger
we have discussed.
- Perhaps a mural behind it asking what do you see and people would
look at it and think about what it means. What does the Inuksuk mean
to you?
- Building on that, I think it is just called the silent messenger,
because just visualizing it makes people see it in a different way.
It gives
messages to people by just seeing it or visualizing it.
- Maybe we could keep a guest book and people could put their names
and how they interpret it.
- Some people may vandalize that privilege or put inappropriate stuff
in it.
- Back to the messenger thing, everyone doesn’t have to interpret
it the way we have.
- I was thinking if the Inuksuk is in the arms stretched out position
it is like it is guarding the school, or as a welcome. Perhaps it
could be the silent welcome, like the silent greeter that welcomes
you to the
school, but it is more than a greater.
- Perhaps students in the school or in grades write what it means to
them on the mural. If you were experiencing an emotion you could go
there
and look at all the meanings and that could help them with what they
were experiencing.
- Perhaps as part of our legacy as grade sixes graduate they could
write or leave their message. Every grade six class could leave
their legacy.
- Every grade could put their interpretations, are there musical meanings.
That would truly capture the essence of what a legacy is. Legacy
means to continue and take forward and leave messages for those to
come.
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