Going to work everyday can be a grind, but when you have a caring and supportive team, it makes a world of difference. Organizations have spent millions trying to figure out the secret sauce that makes a high functioning team tick and you know what it is; caring.
On the Turner Valley / Longview crew, one participant demonstrated he cared by crafting and gifting a dream catcher for another participant’s newly born daughter (see photo).
Dream catchers are a captivating tradition of Indigenous peoples that millions embrace. They are said to protect a person from bad dreams while letting the good dreams through. 'The positive dreams would slip through the hole in the center of the dream catcher, and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person below. The negative dreams would get caught up in the web, and expire when the first rays of the sun struck them.’ (Dream Catcher History & Legend)
The practice of gift giving has unique significance to the Indigenous culture; it demonstrates respect and appreciation. ‘Gifting is also sharing one's resources to benefit and support others. Gifts are an intrinsic part of the sharing ethos of Indigenous people; sharing has always been a necessary aspect of survival.’ (TransCanada)
Through gifting and sharing of cultural practices to show they care, the Turner Valley / Longview crew has figured out the perfect recipe of a high performing team.
“Dream Catcher History & Legend.” Dream Catcher History & Legend | Dream-Catchers.org
“Presents with a Purpose – The meaning of Indigenous Gift Giving.” Presents with a purpose – the meaning of Indigenous gift giving (tcenergy.com)