Decolonizing Canadian Social Work: A Transformative Approach for Indigenous Communities

This document is a final paper proposing an actionable transformative approach for the Family and Children's Services of Guelph and Wellington County to shift towards decolonizing, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and anti-racist practices when working with Indigenous communities in Canada. The proposal is grounded in the historical context of Indigenous oppression and the social work profession's role in colonization. Historical Context and Foundational Concepts The social work profession has a history of making a negative impact on Indigenous society by perpetrating injustices, notably the '60s scoop. This systemic oppression, which began with European contact in the 16th century, involved land removal, the introduction of diseases, and residential schools. The proposed approach is based on the Indigenous concepts of Knowing, Being, Seeing, and Doing Indigenous life: Knowing: Understanding Indigenous lived experiences and acknowledging the truth of perpetrations and rights violations. Being: Embodying the community's values, appreciating one's role, and connecting to individual identity and spirituality. Seeing: Embracing a holistic perspective guided by the interconnectedness of everything in society. Doing: Taking actions that align with Indigenous needs and values, building allyship, and advocating against institutional barriers. Proposed Target Areas and Approaches The paper outlines four target areas for organizational transformation: 1. Adapt Community-Based Approaches Decentring Power: Recognize and limit the reach of the social work profession by de-centring and distributing its power and privilege within the community. Self-Determination: Empower the Indigenous community through funding and integrating the concept of self-determination and building resilience. Peer-Led Strategies: Use peer-led strategies to foster a sense of community, belonging, and agency through shared knowledge and experience. 2. Decolonize Social Work Abolish Oppressive Structures: Implement stringent and appropriate protocols for investigating and removing abused children, resisting the disguised continuation of colonization. Resist Collaboration with Carceral Institutions: Refuse or resist collaborative efforts with police systems and carceral institutions, which are often pervasive perpetrators of social injustice against Indigenous communities. Mutual Aid: Integrate mutual aid and collective responsibility by viewing social workers as part of the community and sharing resources and knowledge. 3. Integrate Cultural-Based and Trauma-Informed Care Holistic Healing: Limit the application of Western ideologies (which often reflect monopolization of skills). Indigenous Knowledge: Integrate Indigenous knowledge of the Circle in professional training, aiming to connect clients with their families, communities, lands, and animals. Trauma-Informed Lens: Address the medicalization of Indigenous traumatic experiences, which are often misinterpreted as psychopathology or delinquency under Western criteria. Language: Prioritize integrating Indigenous language vocabularies to ensure equitable and culturally informed care. 4. Land-Based Healing Approaches and Programs Spiritual Connection: Use Land-based healing approaches, recognizing land as a critical spiritual resource and source of identity, strength, and healing. Rituals and Truth-Telling: Integrate rituals and ceremonies (e.g., burning sage) and utilize sites for truth-telling and relating personal stories to the perpetrations that took place on the lands.