Riding on the success of Indigenous Social Work Around the World, this book provides case studies to further scholarship on decolonization, a major analytical and activist paradigm among many of the world’s Indigenous Peoples, including educators, tribal leaders, activists, scholars, politicians, and citizens at the grassroots level. Decolonization seeks to weaken the effects of colonialism and create opportunities to promote traditional practices in contemporary settings. Establishing language and cultural programs; honouring land claims, teaching Indigenous history, science, and ways of knowing; self-esteem programs, celebrating ceremonies, restoring traditional parenting approaches, tribal rites of passage, traditional foods, and helping and healing using tribal approaches are central to decolonization. These insights are brought to the arena of international social work still dominated by western-based approaches. Decolonization draws attention to the effects of globalization and the universalization of education, methods of practice, and international ’development’ that fail to embrace and recognize local knowledges and methods. In this volume, Indigenous and non-Indigenous social work scholars examine local cultures, beliefs, values, and practices as central to decolonization. Supported by a growing interest in spirituality and ecological awareness in international social work, they interrogate trends, issues, and debates in Indigenous social work theory, practice methods, and education models including a section on Indigenous research approaches. The diversity of perspectives, decolonizing methodologies, and the shared struggle to provide effective professional social work interventions is reflected in the international nature of the subject matter and in the mix of contributors who write from their contexts in different countries and cultures, including Australia, Canada, Cuba, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and the USA.
Theory: Thinking about Indigenous Social Work
Introduction Scoping the Terrain of Decolonization
By Mel Gray, John Coates, Michael Yellow Bird, Tiani Hetherington
Indigenization, Indigenous Social Work and Decolonization: Mapping the Theoretical Terrain
By Mel Gray, Tiani Hetherington
Decolonizing Social Work: An Indian Viewpoint
By Vidya Rao
Ecospiritual Approaches: A Path to Decolonizing Social Work
By John Coates
Why Decolonized Social Work is More than Cross-Culturalism
By Ann Joselynn Baltra-Ulloa
Practice: From the Bottom Up
Community-Based Social Work in Cuba
By Lourdes de Urrutia Barroso, David Strug
Social Work Practice with Mexican Americans
By Flavio Francisco Marsiglia
From Trauma to Triumph: Perspectives for Native Hawaiian and Māori Peoples
By Noreen Mokuau, Peter J. Mataira
Decolonized Social Work Practice in Jordan
By Sahar Al-Makhamreh, Mary Pat Sullivan
Education: Facilitating Local Relevance
Decolonizing Social Work Education in Africa: A Historical Perspective
By Linda Kreitzer
Indigenizing the Curriculum: The Decolonization of Social Work Education in Hawai`i
By Paula T. Tanemura Morelli, Peter J. Mataira, Malina Kaulukukui
Challenging International Social Work Placements: Critical Questions, Critical Knowledge
By Samantha Wehbi
Building Bridges with Indigenous Communities through Social Work Education
By Nicole G. Ives, Michael Thaweiakenrat Loft
Research: Decolonizing Methodologies
Kaupapa Māori Social Work Research
By Anaru Eketone, Shayne Walker
Indigenizing Research for Culturally Relevant Social Work Practice
By Jon K. Matsuoka, Paula T. Morelli, Hamilton McCubbin
Neurodecolonization: Applying Mindfulness Research to Decolonizing Social Work
By Michael Yellow Bird
Using Indigenist Research to Shape Our Future
By Shawn Wilson
Conclusion: Continuing the Decolonization Agenda
By Mel Gray, John Coates, Michael Yellow Bird, Tiani Hetherington