Talking Stick Protocol

At the Human Cooperative Network, we use a Talking Stick Protocol to support respectful dialogue, shared leadership, and heart-centered decision-making. This practice is inspired by the ancient talking circle and council traditions of Indigenous Peoples of North America, whose communities used circles and sacred speaking objects for generations to guide listening, truth-telling, problem-solving, and communal care.

We offer this practice with gratitude and humility. We recognize that Indigenous nations are diverse, that each nation has its own protocols, and that our use is an adapted public practice shaped by respect for those roots rather than a claim to reproduce any one Nation’s ceremony.

In our circles, the person holding the talking stick is the only person who speaks. Everyone else listens fully, without interruption, debate, side conversation, or planning a rebuttal. The circle is meant to create equality, because each person is given space to speak from personal experience and from the heart.

Participants may speak or pass. The talking stick then moves to the next person in the circle, often in a clockwise or locally respectful direction, until every voice has had the opportunity to be heard.

For the Human Cooperative Network, the Talking Stick Protocol reflects our commitment to cooperative culture. It helps us slow down, listen deeply, reduce the dominance of the loudest voices, and make room for wisdom, emotion, reflection, and dignity in the life of the community.

Our circle agreements

One person speaks at a time, holding the talking stick.
Everyone listens with respect and full attention.
We speak from our own experience, using “I” statements when possible.
We do not interrupt, cross-talk, attack, or shame.
Silence is welcome, and passing is always allowed.
What is shared in a sensitive circle is treated with care and confidentiality.
Every voice matters, and no one voice is above the circle.

Acknowledgment ~

We respectfully acknowledge the First Peoples of this land and the enduring wisdom of Indigenous council traditions that continue to guide communities today. We encourage all who use this protocol to approach it with humility, reverence, and a commitment to right relationship.

Our Talking Stick Protocol is not about winning arguments; it is about creating a circle where people feel safe enough to speak truthfully and compassionate enough to listen deeply.