Decolonizing Social Work with Indigenous Communities

Introduction: America's Master Narrative & Indian History, a Shared Past

In this introduction, we will explore the early history of Native Americans before contact with Columbus and begin to consider what life was like for Native people before the arrival of the European settlers. We will learn about the rich diversity and social structures that existed throughout the content including some of the early Native creation stories and migration theories.  We will also explore the different invasions of American by the Spanish, French and English and learn what was similar and what was different about each group int heir interactions with Native people.  Finally, we will begin to look at the devastating effects of foreign disease on Native populations and understand how drastically Native people's lives were changed from the first contact with the colonists. 

Points to ponder:

• How do you think the master narrative portrayed Native people? 
• In what ways did the portrayal of Native people not give them a full identity?
• What evidence suggests that the colonizers perspective of Native people (e.g., their culture, society, and way of life) was non objective or diminished?

Introduction Activities

1. Review the Syllabus

2. Read textbook Chapters 1 & 2 (Calloway, 2011)

3. Respond to Discussion Questions

•  What has history generally shown the American Master Narrative of Native Americans (Indigenous Peoples) to be? 
• What basic themes emerge from the historical narrative of the "pre-contact society" of Indigenous Peoples?
  
• Comment on which important first contact events were influential in shaping later relations between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in the United States. 

4. Native American Tribe assignment

Assignment overview:

Prepare a 1-3 paragraph informal presentation about the Tribe(s) whose traditional land you are working and living. You will share the information you’ve gathered fellow students.

 
Note: this is not a full research paper and is expected that it may take you 1 or possible 2 hours to gather information that you will share with the class.

Purpose of assignment:

* Educate yourself and others in the class about a specific Tribe.
* To recognize that each of us is living and working on traditional tribal lands. Sd  

Suggested contents of knowledge to gather:

• Current headquarters of Tribe/Rancheria
• Current population and distribution
• Description or Map of original territory
• Strengths: current cultural practices, events
• Tribal government and resources: Social services, health services, tribal court, consortia, etc.
• History:  Events of relocation, genocide, status of federal recognition, etc.
  Socio-economic factors and statistics