Introduction

• Main Authors: Gray, Mel, Coates, John, Yellow Bird, Michael
• Other Authors: The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Education & Arts, School of Humanities and Social Science
• Format: Book Part
• Language: unknown
• Published: Ashgate 2008
• Subjects: Indigenous; social work; education; cultures; Western society; First Nations
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/804486

Social work has been sought out or invited into many countries and cultures in efforts to develop ways to address personal and social problems, however, when social workers participated in the mass forced removal of Indigenous children from their communities, Indigenous Peoples knew quite well the culturally destructive side of the profession. The profession has made great efforts to develop effective methodologies that can be of benefit to First Nations or Indigenous Peoples, and minority populations, but despite holding significant roles in providing social services to people from different cultures and societies, social work has been slow to accept non-Western and lndigenous world views, local knowledge and traditional forms of helping and healing. As a consequence, social work education and practice, in regard to non-Western cultures, has struggled to develop and deliver services in an effective, acceptable and culturally appropriate manner.