If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of
spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man. All
things are connected. —Chief Seattle
[Unknown Photographer]
This is the third time I am trying to post here... I am going to try and maintain some sort of mental stability while posting for the fourth time! I am going to visit my spirit, body, and mind as one. I am attaching two videos that I believe beautifully coincide with the reading. I will attempt to summarize the article at this point but, I will say that it certainly touched me deeply and that this is an area within social work that I hope to better understand and grow.
The article Moving from Colonization: A Native American Perspective on Wellness! The high level of unmet needs for Native Americans absolutely deserves an explanation. I think the article does a good job in pointing out where social work needs to improve. I will sum up with the conclusion of the article: "Social work is a profession ethically committed to providing effective services (NASW,2000). Yet, despite good intentions, the services provided by mental health professionals have failed to adequately address the needs of Native Americans (Harris et al., 2005). As currently constructed, the Western counseling project delivers services that are often ineffective and function a s a vehicle for colonization (Coates et al., Gone, 2004; Walls et al., 2006).
The article Moving from Colonization: A Native American Perspective on Wellness! The high level of unmet needs for Native Americans absolutely deserves an explanation. I think the article does a good job in pointing out where social work needs to improve. I will sum up with the conclusion of the article: "Social work is a profession ethically committed to providing effective services (NASW,2000). Yet, despite good intentions, the services provided by mental health professionals have failed to adequately address the needs of Native Americans (Harris et al., 2005). As currently constructed, the Western counseling project delivers services that are often ineffective and function a s a vehicle for colonization (Coates et al., Gone, 2004; Walls et al., 2006).
"In
light of the situation, it is time to consider transforming service
provision, rebuilding it upon Native understanding of reality (Whitbeck,
2006). Instead of addressing secular Western frameworks up in
culturally competent garb, it is time to construct Native practice
modalities from the ground up. New helping models built on a Native
presuppositional foundation rather than an Enlightenment
presuppositional foundation must be constructed."
http://youtu.be/dVy4Kxi0ITg
Thank you for your post. It is important to ask questions, investigate, and open one's mind to cultural worldviews and perspectives that are different from the one's we may have been raised with so we can understand others better and be in a better position to serve them.
ReplyDeleteI have also always been a firm believer in holistic healing that takes into account the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. We have learned a good deal about socio-, enviro-, political, economic, and familial influences in the development of the person. It is also important to understand how the whole person is developing and how they are affected within their minds, spiritual being, and the physical.