TRADITIONAL

ASSMILATION

Assimilation Continuum

Period of Cultural Shame

1831 1871 1887 1924 1934 1947-70

1978 1973

Period of Cultural Pride

2009

Bi-Cultural person

Bi-Cultural person

Federal Policy of Assimilation and Manifest Destiny

Treatment Modalities and Assessments To consider

Cultural Foundations of ICWA• Concern about the loss of tribal culture• Loss of language• Loss of spiritual foundations of tribal life• Basic philosophical loss of tribal history and people• Preservation of tribal child’s heritage• Future of tribes were seen in a very precarious

position• So many adult tribal children coming back without a

clue as to who they are

History behind the need for ICWA

Civilization Act, early 1800s

• The act intended to “civilize” and “Christianize” Indians through federal and private means.

Indian Boarding Schools1860s – Current Day

• Children removed from home and sent to military style boarding schools

• Alcohol problems effect the reservation communities much more then dominate communities because everyone is related to one another

• “Problem Drinking” major type of drinking behavior

• Alcohol introduced early in the trade intercourse between US government and tribal nation as a prelude agreement

AODA

AODA CONTIUMM

eExperimental use

Social drinking

Problem Drinking

Dependent or an alcoholic About 7% of thepopulation

This where a majority of AODA problems occur “Drink to get Drunk” Causes them problems

Strong Cultural Identity foundation

Basic Human Needs – Food, Shelter – are met

Historical Social Problems

Ability to deal with everyday Problems

Using and living cultural tools

Everyday social ProblemsCan come atAny time

An ElderTeacher

Cultural resilience helps work andDeal with on goingSocial problems

Being a Parent

Not met

Weak

Cultural Social Network

Social Network

Ceremonies, Family RitualsExtended Family ResourceSpiritual advisors, tribal language

Social Problem OrPerceived Crisis

Resolution

Family, friends, Priests,Counselors, teachers,

Becomes a Major Problem

When it is Weak

When it is Strong

Comfort

Confusion

Traditional Assimilated

Areas of Assessment:Family lifeSocial lifeSelf conceptSelf esteemSelf imageEducationSpirituality Tribal language

1 to 10

1 to 10

FAMILY ROLES IN AN ALCOHOL FAMILY

The co-dependent enabler

Super hero Mascot Lost child scapegoat Placator

Addict

Family Intervention

• Find a person to do the intervention• Get as many individuals who are close to the

individual – family, friends, co-workers• Find place to do the intervention• Have them practice a starting phrase “because of

your drinking I have seen and felt this…”• Have treatment facility ready• Prep family for their follow up in the treatment

process

Intervention

• Each member look into their own personal memory and find a family or friend who was having a problem with drinking and what was the observational behavior

• One student be an IP• Start the intervention process described • Process the feelings

• Oppressive behavior among one another based upon low-grade depression

• See culture as bad or pagan• Culture Used only in contextual situations • Not used as a way of life• Culture is marginalized not seen as the main

paradigm of cultural learning• Colonialism – “Great White Father syndrome”

Cultural Oppression

Institutional parenting from boarding schoolsTraditional methods of conflict resolution not

learned or usedCommunication patterns disruptedDomestic violence (no domestic violence prior to

contact with European colonizers)Child physical and sexual abuseIntergenerational anger lingersHistorical Trauma – Post traumatic cultural syndrome

Dysfunctional family dynamics

• Diabetes as a major health problem• Suicide among youth• Mental health problems• High risk behaviors• High stress levels: Duluth AODA councilor

program study

Health problems

Traditional Assimilated

Acculturated process

Period of Cultural Shame

Treaties -- removal – wards – allotment – boarding schools -- foster care and Adoption

Cultural Continuum

Period of Cultural Pride

Bi-cultural AssimilatedTraditional

631 contracts – ICWA --Casinos –Cultural reaffirmation –tribal schools

Building on Cultural strengths of tribal nations

• Prior to Casinos unemployment rates were averaging between 50 to 80%

• Some casinos make just enough to pay employees• Rates are down to 15 to 20 percent, some are higher

depending on the location of reservation• Seasonal types of employment • Per-cap distribution varies from no per cap

distribution to several hundred thousand. Most tribes have no per-cap distribution

Unemployment

• Relocation of reservation based families to large urban areas

• Values different; movement from collective to individualism

• Types of violent environments children are growing up

• Movement away from cultural values and teachings

Urban areas

• Many families returning; infrastructure not set up to deal with large numbers returning

• Housing• Urban Values of individualism conflicts with

rural reservation values• Everyone knows one another• Low level of community depression• Reservation schools

Problems living on Reservation

• On the Reservations• In urban areas• Unemployment• AODA • School• Interpersonal dynamics • Dysfunctional family dynamics• Cultural oppression• Oppressive among one another• Poverty• Casinos

Social Problems

Dates • 1831 – Marshall decision: domestic sovereign nations• 1871 – treaties end; are made wards of Federal government;

churches involvement in education and civilization of tribal people

• 1887 – Dawes allotment Act – met to make farmers out of tribal people dividing up tribal land

• 1924 – given citizenship• 1934 – Indian reorganization Act – ends allotment; Indian new

deal• 1947-70 – relocation period, rez to urban areas• 1973 – Indian self determination Act• 1978 – Indian Child Welfare Act

Understanding Social Cultural Historical Change

Cultural Strengths Social and Cultural Problems

Community Family

Individual

Cultural Competency Foundation