Native Social Work Journal

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://laurentian.scholaris.ca/handle/10219/378

Nishnaabe Kinoomaadwin Naadmaadwin

Published by the School of Native Human Services - Native Social Work Journal, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario.

The Native Social Work Journal is registered with the Canadian Association of Learned Journals. Cover artwork by Leland Bell.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 86

Aambe Maajaadaa! Community organizing in Indigenous Communities and Leanne Simpson's Dancing on our Turtle's Back: Stories of Nishnaabeg Re-Creation, Resurgence, and a New Emergence
(2012-12-03) Williamson, Tara
When I was asked to develop a community organizing course for the Aboriginal Emphasis Initiative in the social service worker program at Fleming College, I began running through the list of great books, articles, and other resources I’ve used or seen in the last few years on this topic. Although I do have a background in social work, I have also had the opportunity to study and work in the fields of law and Indigenous governance; and so, I look to all of these areas when considering the most current and relevant information on any topic. In the process, I quickly realized the kinds of divisions that still happen between disciplines that tend to limit the dialogue in any field before the conversation has even started. In response, I’d like to open the horizon a little and offer a book review of a new work that would normally be classified as “Native Studies” but which I have found to be an incredible contribution to the field of community development and organizing in its focus on Indigenous ways of thinking, knowing and how that relates to organizing and mobilizing in Indigenous communities.
"Aboriginal Children and Youth, Issues and Challenges"
(School of Native Human Services, 2003-12) School of Native Human Services
"Aboriginal communities and Social Science research: Voyeurism in transition"
(School of Native Human Services, 1997-05) Gilchrist, Lauri
Examination of the relationship of research to Aboriginal peoples reveals a curious paradox. Volumes of research have generated data and theory on Aboriginal people in Canada, and yet there is little research which Aboriginal peoples have been able to determine themselves.
Aboriginal Healing Methods for Residential School Abuse and Intergenerational Effects: A Review of the Literature
(2007-03) Goforth, Shelley
Residential school abuse and its intergenerational effects have created devastating impacts on entire Aboriginal communities. Much has been written about the history and experiences of Aboriginal people who attended residential schools, including the impacts on individuals, families, communities and nations. The purpose of this literature review was to examine the area of healing from residential school abuse and intergenerational effects. Important to this exploration was a focus on Aboriginal healing methods. It was found that only a small amount of literature exists in the area of appropriate and effective therapeutic or healing strategies for dealing with residential school abuse. Further, the Canadian residential school system is only one of many forms of oppressive measures that have impacted upon Aboriginal peoples. Therefore it is difficult to separate what form of oppression has caused which impacts. These various forms of oppression exacerbate and intensify each other. Further, rather than tracing the cause of present social conditions of Aboriginal people down to residential schools, most researchers broaden their scope of oppression, going beyond residential schools alone. This paper explores how Aboriginal communities are using Aboriginal healing methods to deal with oppression, colonization and its resulting social conditions, and demonstrates how the emerging body of literature is clearly relevant to our understanding of healing from residential school abuse and its intergenerational effects.
"Aboriginal students speak about acceptance, sharing, awareness and support: A participatory approach to change at a University and Community College"
(School of Native Human Services, 1999-04) Young, Wendy
The qualitative participatory action research on which I report in this paper represents a bicultural partnership venture between myself and Aboriginal students at two post-secondary educational institutions in North Eastern Ontario; Nipissing University and Canadore College. It was undertaken, in part, to generate an information base for the teaching and learning of Aboriginal students.
"Aboriginal Youth Vision Committee"
(School of Native Human Services, 2003-12) Native Child and Family, Centre; Sudbury Metis Youth, Centre; Shkagamik-Kwe Health, Centre; Wahnapitae First, Nation; Lemieux, Debbie
The Aboriginal Youth Vision Committee began in August 2000. Three agencies and one First Nation came together to plan a traditional camping experience for the youth of these agencies/organizations. The three agencies were Sudbury Metis Youth Centre, Native Child and Family Centre, Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre and the First Nation was Wahnapitae First Nations.
"Aboriginal Youth: Risk and resilience"
(School of Native Human Services, 2003-11) Du Hamel, Paula
In 1996, the Royal Commission On Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) discussed the need for role models, mentorship, community programs and family support of Aboriginal youth. Many Aboriginal communities, both urban and rural, identified psycho-social factors (among the physical) within their adult populations that produced ability issues to cope within the family environment. In this paper I propose future exploration and research which is designed to be suppor5tive of the notion of Aboriginal youth resilience. By investigating various psycho social, economic, educational and environmental factors and the impact they have on the socialization experiences of Aboriginal youth, I believe that a strategy for resiliency could be implemented in both urban and rural Aboriginal youth communities. My emphasis is the socialization experiences of Aboriginal youth and examining the factors that contribute to risk and resiliency. To date, I have not found any research recorded on Aboriginal youth risk and resilience in Canada that encompasses the examination of the factors I've identified above as a whole, nor have the impact they have on youth risk been examined. I believe that it is time we consider more than individual areas of Aboriginal youth risk and embrace this circle in its entirety. Specifically, this paper asks and attempts to answer the following: During the socialization process of Aboriginal youth, where are the risk areas, how can they be addressed and how do they contribute to success or personal resiliency in the transition to adulthood?"
"Am I a modern-day missionary? Reflections of a Cree Social Worker"
(School of Native Human Services, 2003-11) Hart, Michael
I have long held a desire to support others as I struggle forward, hopefully forward, in my own life. In the past, I did not reflect on this desire to any great extent: I just accepted it. It was a drive that came from my inner being. To fulfill my desire, I look in several directions and chose social work as the means. I saw that social work has the good intentions of helping people in need. Generally, I agreed with its philosophy that was based upon the values of humanitarianism and egalitarianism. But as I began my life as a social worker, particularly in university where I looked closely at social work, its values, and its practices. I also began to reflect upon social work as a means to helping. More recently, I've been focussing upon Indigenous peoples experiences with helpers and social workers.
Articles ; Volume 9, February 2014
(2014-06-11)
"Articulating Aboriginal Paradigms: Implications for Aboriginal Social Work Practice"
(School of Native Human Services, 2003-11) School of Native Human Services, Laurentian University
"Attitudes and beliefs towards HIV and AIDS among Aboriginal peoples living in British Columbia"
(School of Native Human Services, 2000-09) Schneider, David; Marsden, Barbara; Copley, Tobin; Skaling, Barbara; Nowgesic, Earl
Healing Our Spirit, BC First Nations AIDS Society (HOS) provides outreach and education services for First Nations and Aboriginal people living with HIV AIDS (APHA). These services, including educational workshops, are provided to diverse clients and communities throughout British Columbia (BC), including remote villages and reserves. Over the past three years, workshop participants have completed questionnaires. Using this collected data multivariate logistic regression is used to examine attitudes and beliefs about those who are living with HIV.
"Being a Native researcher in your own community"
(School of Native Human Services, 2003-11) Mandamin, Agnes
Research is about knowing and understanding. It is about re examining issues, problems or questions of which we seek further knowledge or answers (NWSK 3555 Class Notes, September 18, 2001). First and foremost, First Nations research is a different way of knowing which involves understanding people and their perspectives. Who would understand better these "ways of knowing" than someone from the same community? Hiring Native researchers from outside one's own community has, in past experience, resulted in lack of a trust relationship and poor (or skewed) research results. A vital aspect of any First Nations Researcher is to obtain community permission. What needs to be addressed from the outset may include western ethics of "doing" research but not to the neglect of community and cultural-specific ways of "finding out things." An effective and culture-based approach to research ought to be grounded in a holistic methodology. By holistic, I mean understanding the concept of the topic from the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects, not only from the researcher's point of view, but also from the community members themselves. Personal attributes of the researcher also ought to be taken into consideration. Allocation of time and place is another important aspect of consideration when it comes time for interviews. Face-to-face interviews, in my experience, seem to work best in First Nations communities, likely due to the lack of trust issue.
"Bringing home Payahtakenemowin (Peace of Mind): Creating self-governing community services"
(School of Native Human Services, 1997-05) Timpson, Joyce; Semple, Douglas
The decade from 1985 to 1997 saw rapid social and economic change in the 27 remote hunting and trapping First Nations of Northwestern Ontario. The area also saw an eightfold increase in the suicide rate despite the introduction of a multi-million dollar system of outside helping services. By assuming control of health services, the First Nations have increased the ability to address health and social service problems locally.
Building Bridges Between Academe and Community: Case Study of the Healing of the Seven Generations Project
(2007-03) Lafrenière, Ginette; Diallo, Lamine; Dubie, Donna
The following article is an account through the eyes of a community partner and two instructors at Wilfrid Laurier University who, through a series of events, contributed to the development of a community-based aboriginal healing program. The Healing of the Seven Generations Project is an attempt to address issues of healing amongst survivors and intergenerational survivors of the residential school system living in the Waterloo Region. Given the history of academic exploitation between certain researchers and aboriginal communities, the authors submit that this particular initiative may be considered as a model for future collaboration between academic institutions and aboriginal community groups given its attention to anti-oppressive practice and community development. A more extensive version of this article has been published in other venues. The purpose of this submission is to share the journey of the actors involved in this project as well as to encourage reflection on the merits of university and community collaboration within aboriginal spheres.
Building leadership capacity amongst young Anishinaabe-Kwe through culturally-based activities and creative arts
(2012-12-03) Cote-Meek, Sheila; Dokis-Ranney, Kathy; Lavallee, Lissa; Wemigwans, Dawn
A pilot program was designed to begin to fill a gap by contributing to building leadership capacity of young Nishnaabe Kwe. While this was a small pilot program, the results show promise in building the capacity of young Aboriginal women by engaging them in a culturally based program aimed at building self-esteem as well as knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal identity, culture, and tradition. The literature also supports that many Canadian girls which included Aboriginal girls face gender-specific challenges that may include poor body image, low self-esteem, eating disorders, violence in their lives, poverty, sexism, racism and homophobia (Hein & Holland, 2005).
"A Case Study in progress: The role of Memorial University's School of Social Work in the context of Aboriginal self-government in Newfoundland and Labrador"
(School of Native Human Services, 2003-11) Baikie, Gail; Decker, Gillian
Newfoundland and Labrador, like other regions in Canada, is in a period of social transformation due to a number of processes to resolve outstanding political and socio-economic issues with the province's Aboriginal peoples. In addition, major initiatives in the region such as the Davis Inlet relocation and the development of the mega Voisey's Bay nickel deposit pose significant social risks and opportunities. Greater political autonomy and self-determination for the Aboriginal governments also creates obligation and responsibility for the social welfare of their citizens. What is the place for the social work profession, Aboriginal social workers and for Memorial University of Newfoundland's School of Social Work during this era of profound social change? This article explores the concurrent journeys of the Aboriginal peoples of the province, the School of Social Work, and an Aboriginal social work student as each grapple for meaning and relevance in building a new more socially just reality.
"Celebrating community knowledge: Encouraging involvement, achieving ownership and building confidence through comprehensive community consultation"
(School of Native Human Services, 2000-09) Armstrong, Todd
Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association of Canada has demonstrated a historical commitment to addressing health care issues among Inuit communities, and HIV/AIDS is no exception. Since the story of Leetia Geetah, the first Inuk woman diagnosed with HIV, hit the news in 1988, Pauktuutit has been increasingly involved in HIV/AIDS issues.
"The circle of healing"
(School of Native Human Services, 1999-04) Stevenson, Jean
Many Aboriginal communities and urban Aboriginal people in the field of social services are utilizing Healing Circles. Talking Circles or Sharing Circles as a way of providing group support for people who are dealing with issues such as addictions, violence, grief, and trauma. The Native Council of Canada's 1993 report affirms that "traditional Healing Circles are being used with increasing frequency in urban Aboriginal communities" (p. 1).
"A community-based approach to reducing HIV/AIDS infection in the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve"
(School of Native Human Services, 2000-09) Maar, Marion; Cooper, Scott; Peltier, Mary Ann
Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve has long been committed to self-determination in the development of local community services. In light of this commitment, we examine in this report the response of this rural Native community to the HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome) epidemic.
"A Community-based approach to the development of a First Nations B.S.W. Program: Community needs assessment and proposed model"
(School of Native Human Services, 2003-11) Harris, Barbara
Over the last 2 years, UBC's School of Social Work and Family Studies has, in collaboration with the Squamish Nation, provided funds and resources for the development of a First Nations BSW program to be delivered off-campus. The project is both interesting and exciting, because of the nature of the process. This paper constitutes a 3 stage process of research conducted over the last 2 years, and focuses on the findings of a) my initial research into Native social work education over the last 30 years, b) a community needs assessment and c) a proposed model for curriculum and program delivery.

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