Creating Spaces for Decolonization and Indigenization Among Mental Health Professionals in Higher Education

ABSTRACT

As Indigenous mental health professionals, we need to articulate and differentiate between uncolonizing spaces, and moving toward decolonization and indigenization in the training of mental health professionals. While these terms are frequently used, the processes involved remain to be clearly articulated. Too often practices that are intended to be decolonizing center the settler-colonizer narrative. Representation of Indigenous peoples as active agents in their own healing matters and their knowledge systems must be included in mental health training. Three necessary elements are required to create these spaces: a) centering Indigenous epistemologies in theory, practice, and research; b) co-constructing learning spaces where Indigenous peoples’ lived experiences are heard, validated, and honored and conducted with cultural humility; and c) practicing ceremonies/rituals to create healing and connectedness within these sacred spaces. Finally, we provide a case study of the creation of a Hui (group in Hawaiian) among Indigenous practitioners, scholars, and students demonstrating transformation of pedagogy and praxis for mental health professionals in training (Barnhardt, 1992; Fellner, 2018a; hook, 2013).

KEYWORDS:

• Indigenous peoples
• colonization
• decolonization
• IIndigenization
• Pacific islanders

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 To center Indigeneity and decenter whiteness and white supremacy, the word white will not be capitalized.

2 Talk story: For a discussion of this style of storytelling, exchange of personal experiences and support, see.

Affonso et al. (1996).

3 As part of a class reading an article on Native Hawaiian identity, students put on the board ‘sticky notes” with 4-word responses to what they read.

4 na‘au (n): intestines, bowels, guts; mind, heart, affections; of the heart or mind; mood, temper, feelings (Pukui & Elbert, 1991).

5 Quotes taken from interviews with the Native Hawaiian members of the Hui as part of a larger study.

6 Hawaiian proverbs, wise sayings that teach and affirm values, expectations, beliefs about the person’s relation to self, others, nature, and the universe.

7 kīpuka (n) a calm place; especially a clear place or oasis.