Indigenous Social Work around the World: Towards Culturally Relevant Education and Practice(Contemporary Social Work Studies)

How can mainstream Western social work learn from and in turn help advance indigenous practice? This volume brings together prominent international scholars involved in both Western and indigenous social work across the globe - including James Midgley, Linda Briskman, Alean Al-Krenawi and John R. Graham - to discuss some of the most significant global trends and issues relating to indigenous and cross-cultural social work. The contributors identify ways in which indigenization is shaping professional social work practice and education, and examine how social work can better address diversity in international exchanges and cross-cultural issues within and between countries. Key theoretical, methodological and service issues and challenges in the indigenization of social work are reviewed, including the way in which adaptation can lead to more effective practices within indigenous communities and emerging economies, and how adaptation can provide greater insight into cross-cultural understanding and practice.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Preface; Introduction, Mel Gray, John Coates and Michael Yellow Bird; Part1 'Indigenization' as an Outmoded Concept: From 'indigenization' to cultural relevance, Mel Gray and John Coates; Promoting reciprocal international social work exchanges: professional imperialism revisited, James Midgley. Part 2 Indigenous Social Work: A Just Cause: Towards an understanding of indigenous social work, Mel Gray, Michael Yellow Bird and John Coates; Indigenous people and the language of social work, Michael Yellow Bird and Mel Gray; Indigenous social work in the United States: reflections on Indian tacos, Trojan horses, and canoes filled with indigenous revolutionaries, Hilary N. Weaver; Decolonizing social work in Australia: prospect or illusion, Linda Briskman. Part 3 Towards Culturally Relevant Social Work Practice: The development of culturally appropriate social work practice in Sarawak, Malaysia, Ling How Kee; The past, the present and the future: the New Zealand indigenous experience of social work, Wheturangi Walsh-Tapiata; Tongan social work practice, Tracie Mafile'o; Critical reflections on an Aboriginal; approach to helping, Michael Anthony Hart; Homemade social work: the 2-way transfer of social work practice knowledge between India and the USA, Jayashree Nimmagadda and Diane R. Martell; Localizing social work with Bedouin-Arab communities in Israel: limitations and possibilities, Alean Al-Krenawi and John R. Graham. Part 4 Culturally Relevant Social Work Education: Reconfiguring 'Chineseness' in the international discourse on social work in China, Rick Sin; A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step: the development of culturally relevant social work education and fieldwork practice in China, Angelina Yuen-Tsang and Ben Ku; Re-envisioning indigenization: when bentuhuade and bentude social work intersect in China, Miu Chung Yan and A Ka Tat Tsang; Developing culturally relevant social work education in Africa: the case of Botswana, Kwaku Osei-Hwedie and Morena J. Rankopo; Missing the 'flight from responsibility': tales from a non-indigenous educator pursuing spaces for social work education relevant to indigenous Australians, Susan Gair; Picking up what was left by the trail: the emerging spirit of Aboriginal education in Canada, Gord Bruyere; Indigenous social work education: a project for all of us?, Erika Faith; Hearing indigenous and local voices in mainstream social work, Mel Gray, John Coates and Tiani Hetherington; Conclusion, Mel Gray and John Coates; Postscript: terms of endearment: a brief dictionary for decolonizing social work with indigenous peoples, Michael Yellow Bird; References; Index.

About the Author :
Mel Gray is Professor of Social Work, Research Institute for Social Inclusion and Wellbeing (RISIW), The University of Newcastle. John Coates is Professor of Social Work at St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Michael Yellow Bird is Professor of Social Work at Humboldt State University, Arcata, California and is the Founder and previous Director of the Center for Indigenous Peoples' Critical and Intuitive Thinking at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA

Review :
’This is a book that is bound to spark discussion. It will help social workers reflect on the diversity of social work around the globe and question the universal validity of social work models, the values they are based on, the methods they use and how social work education deals with them.’ Professional Social Work ' Indigenous Social Work around the World articulates a social work epistemological revolution...there are an incredible number of ideas, experiences, wisdoms and reflections offered in this book...I invite the authors to consider translating this book into as many languages as possible...' Social Work & Society ’...this book demands a new professional discourse...original essays that chart the evolution and possibilities of indigenous practice...useful glossary covers important terms...Recommended.’ Choice 'This book is a potentially rich resource for social work practitioners, educators, and students. Faculty might find this text useful as a supplement to materials for interpersonal practice courses and I would argue that it would be a shame to relegate it to only international social work courses as the discourse on Indigenization in Parts 1 and 2 is insightful and engaging....introducing the contents of this book by Indigenous Peoples into mainstream social work courses is absolutely necessary if we are to finally begin to change our outmoded and inflexible western approach to social work....useful for practitioners, educators, and students. Additionally, the Postscript that includes an Indigenous Dictionary/Glossary is insightful and should be included in every social work classroom....this book is a welcome change that validates our experiences as social workers.' Qualitative Social Work