Decolonizing Methodologies: Working with Native and Indigenous Youth

 


Who? What? When? Where? Why? 

Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith, author of Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples, was sponsored to visit San Diego through University of San Diego's Ethnic Studies Department. She visited the Native American Scholars and Collaborators Project (NASCP) Seminar at San Diego State University with the help of USD's arrangements. The event was held on Monday, November 6th, 2017 at San Diego State University. The evening was set up as a seminar where current and former Native Scholars, Native Community Leaders, professors and community members were invited to join a talk led by Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith. Attending this event was an incredible opportunity to hear from and dialogue with Dr. Smith about the application of decolonizing methodologies for myself, as an individual and professional, while also understanding how I can support Native American and Indigenous students as a future school counselor.

Major Takeaways

Dr. Smith gave us insight into her own journey in the education system as an Indigenous womxn and was able to expand on the experiences many students face. Her work with students were similar year after year at the school level, that Maori culture was not celebrated and the students didn't feel like they belong. She discussed how she transitioned to working on policy and the challenges that come with being not only the only womxn of color, but the only Maori womxn at the table. She emphasized how crucial it was for all change agents to find an ally or two that support your work, especially when things become overwhelming and frustrating.

The techniques that we learned in this seminar were tailored towards working with Native and Indigenous youth. A major theory engrained in all of her work is a decolonizing lens, and the mindset that we as educators should be there to allow students to be who they truly are and avoid inflicting harm. This means not perpetuating the cycle of colonization. Our role is to celebrate our student's culture's and all of the knowledge that they come with. If we are able to tap into that knowledge, as educators, we can build healthy, supportive relationships that empower our students to be who they are, in all of their glory.

In the school counseling context, it is crucial that we are aware of the systemic issues that are in place that place barriers to learning for our Native and Indigenous youth. This can be done through intentionality and awareness around issues that Native American and Indigenous youth face like awareness of generational trauma, mistrust with the educational system in the United States, and current inequities that their communities are facing. I appreciated the emphasis on taking a systemic approach when addressing the barriers Native and Indigenous may face, and advocating for policy change that allows for critical review of protocols, policies and practices that may be enabling systemic oppression. In addition, school counselors can advocate for representation of Indigenous communities not only in the schools' staff but also in the curriculum and literature students are learning.


As school counselors we are able to use data from our counseling interventions, behavioral referrals, and demographic data to advocate for our students. My awareness of decolonizing methodologies also puts me in a unique position to have courageous conversations with future administrators and staff to conduct professional development and introduce decolonizing work into our school environment. With that in mind, and with her guidance, I recognize that it is always important for me, and all educators doing decolonizing work, to be conscious of the decolonizing process, and to acknowledge our own work as educators to relearn what the dominant culture has deemed "invaluable" or "incorrect".

This also begins with the realization that I, too, am colonized. This is a constant process for myself as I relearn the value of my own culture and the importance of indigenous approaches. Embracing a decolonized lens is key when reflecting on my own story and life experiences and reframing what "the system" has deemed invaluable. This also means to continue reframing narratives that paint Native and Indigenous cultures in a deficit lens and to change the conversation to one of empowerment and a reflection of the incredible resilience of these communities.

Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith's techniques and approaches are based off of years of research in decolonizing methodologies and were really reflected in her text that we are reading on the grant,  Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples. While many of her examples were founded in her work in New Zealand, and with Maori Peoples, as a scholar on the Native Grant, I have been able to apply her theories and ideologies when I work with Native American Youth from all tribal backgrounds at Campo Elementary. On the grant we have incorporated it through our Identity and Resiliency groups with our Native American students. We are constantly referring to her text as we do work on ourselves around decolonizing our minds, bodies, and spirits and reconnecting with our native heritage. We recognize that if we ask our students to reflect on their identities and tell their stories, we must work on ourselves first. 

A constant question I ask myself about my own experiences are "Do I feel this way because I should be ashamed of my culture? Or is something telling me that I should be ashamed? What are the strengths that have arose through my experiences? How have I been resilient?" When I ask myself these questions I find myself reframing a lot of my perspectives and ways of thinking, and in turn I am able to apply this same approach when I am listening to the stories of my students. Taking a decolonized approach to the work that I do, and will continue to do, empowers me to empower my students. I work to help them believe in the radical idea that they are phenomenal AS THEY ARE, they are beautiful and they are enough, despite what society may be telling them.

Memorable Quotations

"Who am I? Why am I? Do I matter?"

"Sometimes it's not about planting seeds, but watering the seeds that are already there with love." 

"I am survivor of your policies. I am here because you cannot erase me."

--Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith 


With Love & Solidarity, 

Reva Ballat, M.S. in School Counseling at SDSU, Class of 2018