ABSTRACT
Indigenous understandings of helping that inform social work are based in philosophies that concentrate on spirit, life in natural environments, fluxes, patterns and cycles, holism, diversity, relationships, interdependence, community, egalitarianism and respectful individualism. The scope of indigenist social work includes a political focus that directly confronts and challenges the colonial oppression and upholds Indigenous self-determination. This chapter provides an overview of some critical reflections on indigenist social work and closes with a brief discussion regarding its impact on the profession overall. Indigenist social work is based on Indigenous philosophies, knowledges and ways of being, as well as the political and social contexts that Indigenous peoples face. Indigenist anti-colonialism recognizes that the power differentials occur on the structural level as well as the individual level. To develop a deeper understanding of colonial oppression, racism and privilege, indigenist social work relies on Indigenous knowledges as well as critical theories and literature on social justice.
