Reflecting on rural social work resulting from a practicum with the Gitanmaax Men's Group at the Gitanmaax Health and Wellness Center

• Other Authors: Woodworth, James (Author), Burke, Susan (Thesis advisor), Pearson, Tammy (Committee member), Larsen, Mark (Committee member), University of Northern British Columbia Social Work (Degree granting institution)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of Northern British Columbia 2021
• Subjects: Gitanmaax (First Nation) > Mental health services; Gitanmaax (First Nation) > Health and hygiene; Covid 19 Pandemic; 2020 > -Social aspects; Social services; Rural; Rural. > British Columbia; Northern; First Nations
• Online Access: https://arcabc.ca/islandora/object/unbc%3A59181; https://doi.org/10.24124/2021/59181

The purpose of this report is to summarize my practicum experience with the Gitanmaax Men’s Group at the Gitanmaax Health and Wellness Centre in Gitanmaax Village, BC. The agency serves Gitanmaax membership living within the community of Gitanmaax village as well as those living off-reserve in the surrounding area. This report outlines the learning goals of my practicum and how those objectives were met through reflection, supervision, mentorship, and practice. Unforeseen learning came as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it was having on the Gitxsan nation and on the transfer of cultural knowledge to the younger generation. Along with strengthening my social work skills, my practicum allowed me to explore rural ethics in social work and how these connect to practice. This account of what emerged from my practicum learning concludes with suggestions around ethics, self-care, service delivery, and one’s role as a non–First Nations person working in a First Nations community.