Indigenous Family Case Study

Michael Hart begins his book by juxtaposing his position as an Aboriginal person with his experience as a social worker. Traditional social work focuses on Euro-centric ideals, not only in determining which behaviors are adaptive and maladaptive, but also in what approach therapists should take to encourage behavior change in people. Unfortunately, this approach can be, not only isolating for many Aboriginal people, but actually harmful for them. By labeling adaptive behaviors as somehow wrong or maladaptive, traditional social work approaches stigmatize Aboriginal people. This runs counter to the core value in social work, which is service, to the individual and the community.

The CFCSA states in part 1, section 4, that “if a child is an aboriginal child, the importance of preserving the child’s cultural identity must be considered in determining the child’s best interest” (1996). In both cases, both youth had family members within their Indigenous culture that were willing to take them but due to unrelated circumstances these requests were not taken into consideration. The overrepresentation of Indigenous children in care is demonstrated here, where child protection workers are not equipped with the training or resources to adequately identify and address risk when dealing with Indigenous children. This is one of the recommendations within the TRC where “ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child

Health is known as a state where an individual is socially, mentally and emotionally stable without the presence of any illness, disease or infirmity (Carson, 2007). Jenny, an indigenous woman is 34 weeks pregnant, she has been complaining about her abdominal pains and after seeing the flying doctor, she was asked to fly back with him as she might be in an early labour. Jenny is concerned about her family; she wonders how they will manage without her. Her mother-in-law lives with her sister-in-law and she wonders if she will be able to come and help as her mother has a diabetic leg ulcer and needs treatment so cannot travel. This essay will discuss about the health issues before colonization and after colonization, Jenny’s

The Indigenous culture was viewed as inferior and unable to adequately provide for the needs of their children, which was fully fuelled by disproportionate poverty rates as well as the repercussion of residential schools (Russell, 2015). Due to not being able to maintain the standards of European child-rearing practices and common values, social services workers attempted to rescue these children from the conditions they were living in (O’Connor, 2010). These issues have detrimental effects on the families of survivors of the residential schools for generations, also known as multigenerational trauma. Instead of addressing this social policy concern the government was contributing and controlling it, where Indigenous people had little power to address

1.The role of Native American grandmother can take on different definitions depending on the tribe and their culture. The “grandmother” can be several older fictive kin, or they can be older female relatives, or even simply older women in the tribe (Novak, 2012, p. 191). A grandmother is a respected role taking on the upbringing of their oldest or many grandchildren, additionally even fostering orphans or impoverished children (Weibel-Orlando, 1988, p. 163). This caregiving role eases the burden on younger women, allowing them to help financially or to carry out homemaking tasks. Although some grandparents may relish this role, some have it forced upon them to do unfortunate family circumstances of divorce, drug and alcohol abuse, and death (Novak, 2012, p. 191). According to Weibel-Orlando grandparental roles also play a vital role in the continuity of Native American cultural values, being a “cultural conservator”, and relaying a tribe’s history, rituals, and practices through oral storytelling (pp.250-251).

Hence, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spirituality is defined as at the core of their being and identity Grant (cited in Muller, 2014). It originates from the deep sense of belonging to one’s country, and it gives meaning to all aspects of life, including relationship with one another (Poroch et al., 2009). Country “refers to everything, including land, air, water, stories of ‘dreaming’, being dynamic and multilayer, forming rules, norms and beliefs of existence between species and humans and ancestral beliefs” (Kingsley Townsend, Hender-Wilson & Bolam, p.683). Past policies and colonisation have displacement many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People from the connection to their country, language, culture, communities which has created social and health inequalities Gee et al (cited in Dudgeon et al, 2014). In addition has caused significant distress, powerless, integrational grief and trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to this day (Kingsley et al., 2013). Therefore the service delivery should aim to incorporate a holistic approach in addressing social-emotional wellbeing, as it knowledge’s the psychological distress impacted by colonisation (AIHW, 2009). Also, it addresses the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People meaning of health by providing services for social, emotional, spirituality and physical (NACCHO, 2016). Thus by providing a

Growing up Native American, I champion the issues of our society. Irene Vernon, a professor at Colorado State University who specializes in Native American health put it simply, “We are the sickest racial, ethnic population in the United States. “ Poverty, unemployment, lack of formal education, domestic violence, incarceration, alcoholism, substance abuse, poor health, and even suicide rates all significantly exceed national rates for any ethnic population.

In this essay the writer will discuss the colonisation of Australia, and the effects that dispossession had on indigenous communities. It will define health, comparing the difference between indigenous and non- indigenous health. It will point out the benefits and criticism of the Biomedical and sociological models of health, and state why it is important in healthcare to be culturally competent with Transcultural theory. The case study of Rodney will be analyzed to distinguish which models of health were applied to Rodney’s care, and if transcultural theory was present when health care workers were dealing with Rodney’s treatment plan.

Government policies authorising the removal of Aboriginal children have caused extensive and unrepairable damage to every aspect of Indigenous culture. It could be argued that the emotional turmoil which occurred as a result of this policy, is greater than any physical abused ever faced by the Australian Aboriginal people. The act of child removal would be a scarring experience for parents and children of any race or culture. This policy had a particularly damaging impact on the Indigenous people as their identity is based within a set of strong traditional guides and teachings. These lessons are not recorded, but can only be taught through speaking with elders and learning through a connection to others within the mob, connection to art forms

Studies have shown that certain policies of the government that discriminate people on the basis of ethnicity, race and culture or the policies that are unsafe, have caused immense damage to the cultural values and the ethnic beliefs of the people, their families and their communities as well(Durey et al, 20 ) . For example, the profession of social worker played a role in the forceful removal of the Aboriginal children and consequently breakage of the families,. This has led to the increase in the gap/separation consequently leading to the development of mistrust and doubt (Menzies, 2013:51). On the other hand, social work has a very long history of working with vulnerable families. Nevertheless, even with this background, social work has been relatively slow to challenge the leading Western thinking that has suppressed and oppressed Indigenous knowledge and people throughout the world (Bessarab& Crawford, 2013:106).Moreover, it has been seen that the social distances and the

It is clear that Aboriginal people are in critical need of the proper services to cater to their trans-generational trauma. Understanding the Aboriginal’s culture, spirituality, and values will provide the social work counsellor the tools needed in being culturally competent. This paper will examine the historical background of the Aboriginal people, the conflicts social workers face with cultural differences, as well as methods to overcome these challenges

The role of the Social worker is varied as it involves the facilitation of change and empowerment of the individual through social, cultural and environmental influences. Between 1910 and 1970, the role of the social worker was significant due to the impact of the Stolen Generation on Australian society. The Stolen Generation was a dark period in the Australian history where many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were often taken without consent from their homes and families by the government, police and welfare authorities. The children were taken from their homes in order to try to ‘"civilize" them by assimilation into white society’ (McCarthy 2000). The impacts of this period often resulted in severe psychological consequences for the children, the loss of identity, social isolation, depression, alcohol abuse and an increased level of violence. The role of the Social Worker was significant during this period as they were often involved with removing children from their homes and were also required to participate in the reconciliation process to improve the relationships between Indigenous peoples and the wider Australian community. One of the lasting effects of this practice is the distrust of indigenous people towards the social welfare profession.

Despite having little rights, hardworking women and children were often the key to success for independent farms. For these small, family-run farms, the children were often the ones who helped work and manage the land. Women were often the backbone of a household, doing the housework, weaving, cooking, and raising large amounts of children. Women were practically required to bear many children over a lifetime in order to staff the farm to maintain the family’s livelihood.

Canadian citizens understand genocide to be a terrible thing that other countries have done, or are doing. The eradication of an entire population of civilian women, men, and children along with their culture and national sovereignty is something we condemn in our media. When we see genocide happening elsewhere, we debate when we should step in with economic sanctions or military action when it is time to put a stop to a crime against humanity. Rarely, if ever, do we examine our own history long enough to understand that Canada was created by people who committed genocide against the people who were already living here.

The challenges faced By Indigenous Peoples in achieving justice, are both complex and extensive. These issues stem from successive centuries of asserted colonial power, which consequently has resulted in the undermining of rights for many Indigenous communities, including the Australian Aboriginal Peoples and Maori Peoples of New Zealand. Systemic abuse of power has resulted in the gradual erosion of Indigenous culture, and as thus, rights of Indigenous communities, including Intellectual Property and Cultural Rights, have been neglected. As a result, a growing body of declarations, statements, and other developments both within governmental systems, as well as in the wider international justice arena have been received. However, many