The Meeting Place
Consultation and governance
The symbol of the Meeting Place, an important element in the insignia of the Western Cape First Nations Collective, is common among many First Nations people around the world. The convergent lines represent the diverse paths by which we come together in a circle of deliberation, decision-making and governance. The inner circles denote leadership levels, while the overall circular design reflects the process through which the gathering of councils or clans decides the matters under deliberation.
We believe that God created people equal. The Khoi-San do not believe that there should be a leader making the decisions alone like a dictator. Equality was maintained within the hunter-gathering community. However, acquiring livestock has led to social inequality because some had owned a lot and others only a few or nothing. Our ancestors were aware of it and the fact that the kraal was built in a circle of mat houses emphasised togetherness and collective decision making. Even though there were leaders such as tribal chiefs, they could not make decisions without the head women’s and headmen’s input, because they represented their people.
It’s that order or protocol – based on divine equivalence – that’s maintained to this day, as depicted by the Place of Congregation.”
-Dr. Willa Boezak
Text from Struggle of an Ancient Faith: the Khoi-San of South Africa.
Cape Town: Bidvest Data, 2017.
