Indigenous perspectives for strengthening social responses to global environmental changes: A response to the social work grand challenge on environmental change

Deep Ecology and Ecofeminism: Social Work to Address Global Environmental Crisis

“…While historically unacknowledged in the literature, ecofeminist thinkers were also deeply influenced by indigenous knowledge (Fox-Smith, 2017; Nixon, 2015). Indigenous worldviews have acknowledged the interrelated nature of the physical environment and humans for millennia (Billiot, Beltrán, Brown, Mitchell, & Fernandez, 2019; Fox-Smith, 2017; Nixon, 2015). Billiot and colleagues (2019) note the many ways that indigenous communities have been fervent protectors of the natural world and are now uniquely vulnerable to environmental changes stemming from climate change.…”

“…Indigenous worldviews have acknowledged the interrelated nature of the physical environment and humans for millennia (Billiot, Beltrán, Brown, Mitchell, & Fernandez, 2019; Fox-Smith, 2017; Nixon, 2015). Billiot and colleagues (2019) note the many ways that indigenous communities have been fervent protectors of the natural world and are now uniquely vulnerable to environmental changes stemming from climate change. Recent literature highlights the fit between ecofeminism and indigenous ways of knowing and makes headway in acknowledging the fundamental role of indigenous peoples as caretakers of the land and holders of essential ecofeminist wisdom (Bhuyan et al, 2019).…”

“…The political and social crusade of deep ecology is therefore to revive a once-vital consciousness on the importance of diverse human and natural ecosystems and to replace it with the currently reigning modern market-based principles of consumption (Alston, 2013). In sum, this movement advocates a shift in the social work field from fitting in with modernity by way of unquestioningly embracing analytic, scientific rationality to a more social justice–aligned approach in which environmental sustainability is viewed through an inclusive and holistic paradigm that centers indigenous perspectives and land and community stewardship (Bhuyan et al, 2019; Billiot et al, 2019; Ferreira, 2010).…”

“…In concurrence with these methods, indigenous scholars have recently provided examples of social work that incorporates place-based teaching. Billiot and colleagues (2019) share on their work to teach social work students through embodied learning about the sand creek massacre in the state of Colorado. In their example of this type of teaching, explicit connection-making between historical violence perpetrated in part by important figures in the student’s academic community was made, and a site visit was utilized to promote a deep ecological perspective for students who illustrated their interconnectedness with their environment and its history.…”

“…In their example of this type of teaching, explicit connection-making between historical violence perpetrated in part by important figures in the student’s academic community was made, and a site visit was utilized to promote a deep ecological perspective for students who illustrated their interconnectedness with their environment and its history. These scholars also give an example of mental health interventions that engage with the natural environment: The Yappallí Choctaw Road to Health intervention uses a place-based, outdoor mode of communal and individual healing for women of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (Billiot et al, 2019). These are but two examples on how social work practitioners, researchers, and administrators can incorporate place-based, historically aware educational classes and health interventions using these paradigms.…”