|
"Ka waiho iho e au ki a koutou te moemoea…"Hanuere Tofi, Adrianne Taungapeau. Historically, a euro-centric worldview has defined what is 'best' for Indigenous peoples. Consequently they continue to be subjected to social work theories and practice that do not reflect their varying realities. The proliferation of social work programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand fails to incorporate perspectives consistent with ethnic diversity. Global recognition of indigenous cultures and indigenous ways of 'knowing' must prevail in order to effect processes of reconciliation.
This paper sets out why this might be the case from a Tangata Whenua (2) perspective and suggests a way forward. The main points emphasised in this discussion include: Setting down the wero (3) for commencing the process of indigenising the social work programme; The korero required with our 'Tiriti' partners (4) at the Centre for Social Work; Indigenous theoretical perspectives that guide and affirm cultural knowledge and its centrality to practice; The principles that guide our journey for indigenising the social work programme at the Centre for Social Work. 1. Metaphorically this means …I leave you to dream the dream… (Ngata, 1993). 2. Refers to Indigenous Peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand. 3. Refers to setting down of a challenge. 4. Refers to non-Maaori colleagu. Presenters Hanuere Tofi
(New Zealand)
Programme Leader/Senior Lecturer in Social Work Centre for Social Work Faculty of Applied Social Sciences Auckland College of Education Hanuere is from the Rongowhakaata and Ngati Maniapoto Indigenous tribal groups of Aotearoa New Zealand. Her interests are International and Domestic Indigenous Development , Whanau, Hapu and Iwi as systems of cultural survival, Treaty of Waitangi as it relates to Social Work practice and Indigenising Curricula in mainstream tertiary Education.
Adrianne Taungapeau
(New Zealand)
Auckland College of Education
Keywords
(30 min. Conference Paper,
English)
|