James Wogan LCSW

Tag: SEL

  • Crabs in Bucket, reinterpreted

    Crabs in a bucket: Marvin (Diné / Navajo) reflected on “Crabs in a Bucket.” An elder in Seattle shared commonly told admonishment that crabs pull each other down, if one tries to climb out of a pot or bucket, other crabs pull it back down. The lesson, be cautious of who is around you.

    In nature, however, Crabs actually cooperate, climb on each other, help each other, live in community in order to survive. Their nature is cooperation. The bucket, the elder said, is a Western construct. The bucket is Western society, materialism, individuality. When pulled away from their natural environment, of course crabs behave differently.

    A beautiful Native-American re-interpretation of a story commonly told to children; don’t trust or be pulled down by those around you.  This stands is stark contrast to Crabs’ true nature, to lift each other up.  

    Adam Grant (Wharton) added, “We assume this is how crabs behave in a bucket bc this is what we’ve been told. Researchers showed, however, they don’t actually pull each other down. ….Test the hypothesis.” 

    Native wisdom.

  • GONA

    Was invited to gathering of indigenous teenagers in Marin Headlands retreat center at Point Bonita.  Was 4-Day Native community-building wellness retreat called “GONA” for about 20 teenagers from SF.  

    A indigenous woman shared about the healing properties of feathers,🪶 🪶 and how different feathers can be used medicinally for different circumstances.  

    She answered questions and shared, for example, that one “might not always want an eagle feather, it depends on the situation.”   

    For peacefulness, she recommended feathers of a pheasant. One teenager asked about owl 🦉 and she paused … said people from some tribes don’t want to be near owl feathers bc of their meaning and energy.  

    She had light-hearted way of talking w kids; showed them how to wrap feathers in different ways (see photo) they were into it. touch each feather and notice how tactilely different (and similar) each feather is … brings us closer to nature therefore in community w each other. 

    The theme for Friday was “generosity.”  Some of the kids offer feathers they made as gift to community.  They had also done beading and painting in previous days. Gifts are put in community circle and could go to anyone.  

    Native youth leader Crystal from Oakland painted pine nuts from backyard, made a necklace; this will be her gift to someone in community.   

    💫 Hope you see some birds (and feathers 🪶 ) soon.