Naqsmist Storytellers Inc. just surpassed its first year in operation. In April, the journey culminated at the stunning Echo Valley Ranch for our first annual staff retreat, where we celebrated all we’ve accomplished in the last year, and discussed our vision for where we want to go next. In the last year, the Naqsmist team has grown to have 19 employees and 2 full-time contractors. It has been a year of learning and change as we discover where Cultivating Safe Spaces fits in the world, and where we as individuals fit into Naqsmist with our different perspectives and gifts. Naqsmist is now currently navigating a full operational pivot in order to focus solely on the sales and development of our online courses. For a lot of our team, this is a time of research and learning as we enter new spaces and paths of knowledge. Education Technology is an emerging space for learning and sharing knowledge, and our team is committed to bringing Cultivating Safe Spaces into this new industry.

Our team spent two full days strategizing and connecting with the land and with each other. On the first morning, we began with ceremony led by David Archie and Ryan Day. We started the work with song, sharing what was on our hearts and our hopes for ourselves, each other, and the future of the company. David Archie brushed us off so that we could come into the strategy work from a good place. Presentations were given on the direction of the company and our team quickly began to take on new roles and responsibilities. This team has trust and faith in ourselves and one another, and this allows us to dive into new work and new spaces. The Naqsmist team trusts itself to get the work done, and do it well knowing we have the support of the rest of our team. 

While the time we spent with pen to paper ensured the next steps for Naqsmist as a company, the time between these meetings created the structure for the soul of Naqsmist. Centering well-being and connection is another part of the work, and the retreat provided a setting for our team to spend time connecting and resetting. The Echo Valley team provided us with delicious, nourishing food that fueled our minds and bodies, and allowed our team to share three meals a day together. On the first day, our whole team went on a wilderness survival walk, and we can now confidently say that every member of our team can start a fire with a flint. In the evenings the team played games of pool, Clue, and finished two puzzles. We sat around a fire at night and connected and laughed and reflected on the work we’ve done in the last year, and the excitement over what’s coming next.

Just as we began the week in ceremony, we ended it the same. Elaine spoke from her heart about where Naqsmist started, where we are now, and where we go next. Ryan and their son, Teslin, then drummed and sang a song together. We broke circle and our whole team looked off into the land in the distance as they sang. We reflected on the paths that led us to be there, in this beautiful place, with these beautiful people, doing this work we all believe in so much. We still have a long way to go to fully understand Cultivating Safe Spaces and all the spaces it fits into, but we are rooted in our vision and to one another.

                     

Photos: Shane / Lambs Media