Indigenous Social Work around the World: Towards Culturally Relevant Education and Practice [Hardcover]

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.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 NewlƒY