NA Cultural Sensitivity
Kathleen Little Leaf – Native American Cultural Sensitivity Training
Wow! What an excellent presentation. So packed with information in a two hour block. I really reflected on the topic of colonialism. That really resonated for me as a white woman living in Montana. What impacted me the most though was the discussion of the boarding schools. Because of my white privilege I never knew things like this existed! It was a little girls story that speared me to graduate school and a masters in clinical social work. Focusing on therapeutic healing of trauma and not corrections. Thank you for a fantastic conference. Annette Bacheller
She talks about how the progression of Covid has affected the identity and purpose of individuals and I recognize that in working with adolescents who are still developing these areas, it make sense how suicide would be a forefront area of concern. Social media seems to be a scare tactic while also trying to be a source of information for all. How can anyone really know what to pay attention to while being infiltrated with unnecessary fear, or a least how to filter what information is necessary without being negatively affected. As a LCSW, I feel that I am prepared to understand these effects and know how to handle them. I see there is a stark difference between the tribal response to this pandemic than in western society. I love and respect the idea that those living on the reservation view their elders as wise and should be taken care of primarily, whereas the white communities see wearing a mask to protect our elders is an “infringement of their freedoms”. It makes me so sad to see what this will do in decades to come. She spoke about historical trauma versus today, and it really made my stomach sink to really see the continual oppression that Native American’s have faced, and what the impact really looks like. Poverty, drug/alcohol abuse, self-esteem loss, domestic violence…etc. What is this going to do for our nation as a whole. She was right that there is so much loss happening right now. I love how the medicine wheel creates some organization to the human experience. Take away for my clients is widening the resiliency zone! She spoke about gratitude, and doing things while in quarantine with family and that really hit me. I feel in certain aspects, this virus has saved my husband and my relationship. We are both work oriented people and it helped us slow down and really see each other. Attendee
I found the historical information that was shared in this presentation extremely painful. I was stunned to learn that over 97% of natives were killed during the period of the late 1600s through the late 1800s/early 1900s. It reminded me that recognizing the impact of the history of this trauma must be highlighted whenever working with indigenous people, and it has a direct correlation with the present day suffering of native people. Kathy’s summary of differences between native culture and the dominant culture were helpful. In serving native clients, the values of traditional native culture can inform how to best serve. For instance, multi-generational living and engagement together in close community versus nuclear family style living in the dominant culture, is an important perspective to consider when an individual in that family system is in crisis.
Cultural sensitivity is of paramount importance when a clinician in the dominant culture is serving a minority population or one with a different ethnicity. It is extremely important to be aware of my whiteness, my privilege, my unconscious biases, my ignorance, and my potential for committing micro-aggressions in order to serve effectively and with compassion. I must do my own work. I must excavate my own experiences and understand how living in a culture that continues to elevate the value of whiteness is in great need of change. I loved that Kathy provided an invitation to work together to serve native clients and heal communities. I understand the reasons why white clinicians would potentially be distrusted by indigenous clients. It makes my heart ache that this is so. I want to know how I can be part of healing and positive changes.
Take away for my clients is widening the resiliency zone!
Attendee