Indigenous Relational Research Circle Patterns

Reference patterns for high-performance orchestration of multi-agent Indigenous-relational research. These patterns combine the 90.2% performance boost of parallel multi-agent systems with the ceremonial container of the research circle.

Pattern: Research Circle with Firekeeper (High-Performance)

Core flow using the Task tool for parallel execution:

``` [User Question] | v [Firekeeper (Lead Orchestrator)] | ├── Ground & Rephrase Relationally ├── Build Relational Map (rings) ├── Spawn 3–6 Story-Agents (Task Tool) │ ├── People & Communities (Angle 1) │ ├── Land & Water (Angle 2) │ ├── Cosmos & Generations (Angle 3) │ ├── Ideas & Tech (Angle 4) │ └── Value & Markets (Angle 5) ├── Receive & Batch Process Stories ├── Accountability Reflection (Gap Analysis) ├── Optional Wave 2: Spawn deep agents for gaps └── Weave & Return Circle Report ```

High-Performance Guardrails

Parallel Execution (Task Tool): Always spawn Story-Agents in parallel. This drastically reduces latency and increases the quality of the final synthesis.
6 Essential Elements: Firekeeper MUST include these in every sub-agent prompt:
- WHO, WHY, WHAT ANGLE, HOW, SEARCH STRATEGY, SOURCE QUALITY.
MECE-Relational Decomposition: Ensure Story-Agent rings do not overlap in scope. Explicitly define what each agent should NOT cover.
No sequential processing: Collect ALL Story-Agent outputs before the Firekeeper begins weaving to avoid anchoring bias.

Pattern: Two-Eyed Seeing Circle (High-Performance)

When the user explicitly wants Western analytic depth alongside Indigenous paradigms, use paired Story-Agents per ring spawned in parallel:

``` [Firekeeper] | ├── [Task A] Indigenous People & Communities agent ├── [Task B] Western Social/Market analysis agent ├── [Task C] Indigenous Land & Water agent ├── [Task D] Western Environmental/Legal agent └── ... ```

Firekeeper responsibilities:

Ensure Western agents explicitly name their assumptions and metrics.
Prevent Western framings from erasing or diluting Indigenous commitments.
Weave outputs so that Western insight sits as one voice in a wider circle, not as a default authority.