Upper Mid-West Initiative

Folk Building

Our ancestors lived in small, self-contained, self-sufficient communities built of a few closely tied families. These small communities had most of the necessities of life as each person played a role within the community. There were women who wove fabric and spun wool, others who canned and preserved food, and some who tended gardens. There were men who farmed, raised cattle and other livestock, as well as men who were blacksmiths, carpenters and builders. Each of these people was an essential element within the community helping the community to function effectively.

Folk building is a basic concept that should be a vital concern for all folkish people. The theory of folk building is to create a community within a community. This concept is based on a web structure starting with the individual. Each person that makes up a Folk Community contributes to his or her family. Families then network together, forming the Folk Community (FC). By surrounding yourself by other individuals and families, who also believe in our people being self-sufficient, and self-contained, you begin to create the Folk Community. Each individual in the FC participates in community, whether they can help educate the children, raise animals and grow crops, or fix and build necessary structures. Regardless of age, social status, or intelligence level, everyone contributes some how.

The smallest unit of the Folk Community is the individual person. You strive to be the best representative of our Folk that you can, to our children, other Odinists, their children, and also the “outer” community. We must practice what we preach; we must be men and women of our Deeds. Also, we must have total dedication to our Folk. A Folk Community is only as great as each individual’s character, trustworthiness, industriousness, loyalty, etc…

In order for the Folk Community to begin, grow, and thrive, we as a Folk must cooperate. That doesn’t mean unify, something which is truly difficult for our Folk, it means to cooperate on a common level. We can’t be concerned with things we truly cannot affect (i.e. other Folk’s Communities, etc..) , instead we must drop posturing and ego stroking. Let’s start working together on common goals. Let us worry about our own local communities, and let us grow one Folk Community at a time as independent entities. We may march separately, but strike together.

Finally, we as a Folk need to re-evaluate our position in this cause and even perhaps ask ourselves why we are activists for our Folk? In order for Folk Building to occur, our folk must have a clearly defined focus. Folk Building is a way to build a foundation for a strong Faith, Folk and Family.

The above excerpt is from the Odinic Rite website's Acorn page. The link is the title preceding the paragraphs. While this is from an Odinist point of view, the same can be said of any religious denomination our Folk practice. It also rings true for any political oriented community. So long as the Folkish community work together towards the betterment and survival of said community. It is common sense really, that like gravitates to like, and that those of similar cultural, religious, or political beliefs and/or leanings should live closely to each other for common goals.

This page will gather relevant info regarding the building of such Folkish Communities. 

Folk building starts with the creation of a community and the development of that community. Since children are our future and we strive to do all that we can for them, it is only natural to try to build a healthy and happy environment for them - one that offer the skills they need to develop properly. Helping to assess and create an educational institution would be a great step in your local community. The following information can give you both useful and practical tools to use in your community. Hopefully, it will inspire you to reflect on the valuable role you can play in a collaboration in your own community.

Increasingly, research is proving the importance of a strong community in supporting healthy children’s development. Many communities across North America are looking for creative ways to improve the services they offer to children and families, and in many cases, collaboration is the key. By bringing together all of the “actors” in a community, services can be offered in a more efficient, cost-effective and seamless manner. Further collaborations can empower partner organizations and individuals, they can bridge social ties to build trust and a sense of community, and they can create a synergy that fundamentally changes the way services work together.

Since preschools and schools are a much-needed resource in our communities, it would be fit to evaluate if there is an educational need in your community. Here is a simple model to follow to assess this need. It is called the Hub Model. Propose this model to decision-makers as it focuses on building the capacity of our communities and helps to builds partnerships that lead to integrated services within our community.

The Hub Model’s ten-step process is organized into three areas of action: Dare to Dream, Making it Happen, and Working for Change. These provide perpetual learning for all participants in the community development process.

The Hub model is a great starting point to help any community assess the need for such schools and family oriented education. Another aid that the Hub Model will do for your community is that it can support communities in developing the capacity and skills to secure and tailor government and non-government resources to meet the needs of your community. Funding can be a crucial and sometimes difficult task. The Hub Model will help you focus on the local businesses and surrounding supporters, the model assist you in finding the support you need.

If communities work together for the better good of our children we will be amazed at what we can accomplish. Build your Folk Community to be self-sufficient, have your own businesses, schools and join up with others communities for good networking. Together we can accomplish everything we have ever dreamed.

---------

The above is from issue #30 "Folk Building in Action" of  sigrdrifa

We ask that you take the time to view their website and support their efforts as we do.