Natural Connections: A Recommendation to Implement an Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) Program within the Shakopee MdewakantonSioux Community

• Main Author: Simon, Heidi
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato 2011
• Subjects: animal-assisted therapy; AAT; mental health needs; First Nations communities; Social Work; First Nations
• Online Access: https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/539; https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/context/etds/article/1538/viewcontent/Simon_Heidi.pdf

Currently the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community does not have an Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) program. The purpose of this project was to research AAT programs that exist in First Nation Communities. The ultimate goal was to present evidence to support the implementation of a culturally based AAT program into the current mental health model within the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The Animal Assisted Therapeutic Learning (ATTL) program would incorporate traditional beliefs with contemporary ways of life in regard to healing and mental health.