JISD Volume 3, Issue 1, August 2014
The Journal of Indigenous Social Development is now managed by the University of Manitoba. You will still be able to access past issues on this site but for updated submission guidelines and for contact information, please visit the new site.
Hunhu: In Search of an Indigenous Philosophy for the Zimbabwean Education System
Oswell Hapanyengwi-Chemhuru & Ngoni Makuvaza
The Zimbabwean education system is currently grounded in a philosophy of education that is alien. This means that the education that it offers to the majority of the people in Zimbabwe and the values that it inculcates are alien and cannot result in authentic existence. It is therefore essential to search for a philosophy that will bring relevance to the education system – an education system that emanates from the existential historical circumstances of the people. We argue that for the education system at any level to be relevant, it must have its foundations in the philosophy of hunhu. It is not being argued that the philosophy of hunhu be one of the philosophical foundations, but that it be the foundation of Zimbabwean education.
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Preventing Dentures and Putting Aside the Fry Bread: A Systematic Review of Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Conditions for Dental Health and Obesity Interventions for Native American Youth
Rodney C. Haring, Warren Skye, Brenda L. Battleson, Nina Wampler, Maxine Brings-Him-Back-Janis & Myra Muramoto
This systematic literature review was focused on childhood obesity and dental health interventions which have relevance to Native American communities. Childhood oral health and obesity have become significant problems across North America and among Native American Nations. Subsequently, a growing number of dental health and obesity interventions are surfacing for ethnic minority populations including Native peoples. The value and purpose of this review was to stimulate thinking about obesity and dental health intervention commonalities within micro, mezzo, and macro conditions. Two macro findings included the need for schools to be involved contributors in the intervention process and the promotion of both sensible eating and healthy drinking. Micro and mezzo results included the importance of nutrition and food preparation education for food service staff within schools; the incorporation of culturally attuned activities for physical education incorporating family, and structuring intervention programs to be multi-year.
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Mindfulness and the Aloha Response
Thao N. Le & Pono Shin
In this article, we contend that an ancient, contemplative practice called mindfulness, often associated with the Buddhist tradition, shares much resonance with the indigenous wisdom of Aloha, the lifestyle and livelihood of Native Hawaiians. In fact, we propose that mindfulness is one tool and one form of mental energy that facilitates the discovery, recovery, and uncovery of the Aloha response leading to the experiential awareness and embodiment of Aloha. We also discuss how mindfulness in Hawai‘i can nurture individual and collective consciousness to respond with Aloha, thereby recovering the Native Hawaiian spirit on the islands. As they interact with clients and the community, social work practitioners in Hawai‘i can play a key, pivotal role in modeling aloha and encouraging others to engage with aloha.
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Urban Dwelling American Indian Adolescent Girls’ Beliefs Regarding Health Care Access and Trust
Melissa A. Saftner, Kristy K. Martyn & Sandra L. Momper
Indigenous people, specifically American Indians (AI), have historically had a greater mistrust of the medical system compared to their White counterparts. The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of AI adolescent girls living in an urban, Midwest area about health care providers, health care systems, and access to health care as related to sexual health care. Using grounded theory methodology, twenty 15-19 year old AI girls participated in talking circles and individual interviews. Two distinct themes emerged related to sexual health care: 1. AI adolescent girls trust their health care providers and the health care system; and 2. Access to health care is critical to practicing safe sex and obtaining information about healthy sexual practices. These findings are unique and may help health care providers and social workers providing care and support to the urban adolescent AI girl.
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Sexual Orientation and/or Gender Identity/Expression Discrimination and Victimization among Self-Identified LGBTQI Native Hawaiians in Hawai‘i
Rebecca L. Stotzer
Little is known about Native Hawaiian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) people, given the long colonial history of suppressing a variety of indigenous conceptualizations of sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity. This paper presents findings from a statewide needs assessment of LGBTQI people in Hawai‘i, focusing on differences between people who identify their primary race/ethnicity as Native Hawaiian and those who identify as other races/ethnicities in regard to experiences of health care and social service discrimination, workplace discrimination, and victimization. Results suggest that Native Hawaiian LGBTQI people face more bias due to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression along multiple domains than those who identify with other racial/ethnic groups overall.
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