View from Round Rock, Navajo Nation. Aaron Slater. 

“What is worthy of our contemplation? What is worthy of our time? And how is it that we can begin to discuss that with one another and iterate upon that core question continuously, together, communally? And that's where I think we might see more coming to the fray…” 

We kick off Season 3 of We Who Engage podcast with our first guest, Aaron Slater, the lead of MIT Solve’s US Interior and Indigenous Communities work. Joined by co-hosts Ceasar McDowell and Ayushi Roy, the discussion delves into the complexities of reverence in public life and the opportunities for creating inclusive civic spaces. 

To open the conversation, Aaron reflects on the comfort of practicing reverence at home in the Navajo Nation in Round Rock, Arizona. There, meaning-making, celebration, and holding reverence for coexistence are deeply embedded into everyday life. He contrasts this experience with the challenges of maintaining reverence within the fast-paced demands of Western society, where cultural norms and societal pressures often divert attention away from intentional acts of reverence. 

What’s more, the arenas we use to facilitate public discourse are often ill-equipped to interpret multiple forms of public expression. Processes and language frequently used to create common ground tend to be traditional, favoring the receptivity of majority groups, leaving minority voices struggling to find accommodating spaces for public expression. This places a burden of translation on minority groups which can dilute their messages and diminish their meaning. 

Aaron challenges this dynamic by posing an essential question: Why can’t our civic processes be rooted in epistemic humility? He advocates for the adoption of broader, more inclusive interpretive frameworks that welcome diverse ways of knowing and understanding. By fostering discussions based on shared principles from multiple knowledge systems, and incorporating appreciative reflection of those systems, civic discourse can evolve to be more representative and generate new common ground. This idea also aligns with Antonio Moya-Latorre’s approach of using art and music as reflection tools to build a common understanding of the impact of his community development work. If such frameworks are implemented, new opportunities could arise for innovative solutions. Additionally, stronger mechanisms could be put in place to ensure institutional accountability. 

Another key critique Aaron offers is that society often places more reverence on institutions themselves rather than the values they were originally meant to uphold. When this reverence becomes imbalanced, institutions may prioritize their own agendas over the needs and values of the people they serve. This misalignment can lead to harmful consequences and a loss of trust. 

So, how can we recognize when our sense of reverence is misplaced? Aaron suggests that practicing reverence regularly can help restore balance. By committing to a contemplative approach, one that seeks to uncover the deeper wisdom behind what truly deserves our reverence, we can gain a clearer understanding of our values. The more we engage in thoughtful inquiry together, the closer we get to a shared wisdom that can serve as a foundation for building institutions that faithfully embody our collective aspirations.