Decolonizing Social Work

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.

Contents: Preface, Michael Yellow Bird; Part I Theory: Thinking About Indigenous Social Work: Introduction: scoping the terrain of decolonization, Mel Gray, John Coates, Michael Yellow Bird and Tiani Hetherington; Indigenization, indigenous social work, and decolonization: mapping the theoretical terrain, Mel Gray and Tiani Hetherington; Decolonizing social work: an Indian viewpoint, Vidya Rao; Ecospiritual approaches: a path to decolonizing social work, John Coates; Why decolonized social work is more than cross-culturalism, Ann Joselynn Baltra-Ulloa. Part II Practice: From the Bottom Up: Community-based social work in Cuba, Lourdes de Urrutia Barroso and David Strug; Social work practice with Mexican Americans, Flavio Francisco Marsiglia; From trauma to triumph: perspectives for native Hawaiian and Maori peoples, Noreen Mokuau and Peter J. Mataira; Decolonized social work practice in Jordan, Sahar Al-Makhamreh and Mary Pat Sullivan. Part III Education: Facilitating Local Relevance: Decolonizing social work education in Africa: an historical perspective, Linda Kreitzer; Indigenizing the curriculum: the decolonization of social work education in Hawai'i, Paula T. Tanemura Morelli, Peter J. Mataira and C. Malina Kaulukukui; Challenging international social work placements: critical questions, critical knowledge, Samantha Wehbi; Building bridges with indigenous communities through social work education, Nicole G. Ives and Michael Thaweiakenrat Loft. Part IV Research: Decolonizing Methodologies: Kaupapa Maori social work research, Anaru Eketone and Shayne Walker; Indigenizing research for culturally relevant social work practice, Jon K. Matsuoka, Paula T. Tanemura Morelli and Hamilton McCubbin; Neurodecolonization: applying mindfulness research to decolonizing social work, Michael Yellow Bird; Using indigenist research to shape our future, Shawn Wilson; Conclusion: continuing the decolonization agenda, Mel Gray, John Coates, Michael Yellow Bird and Tiani Hetherington