Strong Helpers' Teachings: The Value of Indigenous Knowledges in the Helping Professions

The thoroughly updated third edition of Strong Helpers’ Teachings skillfully illustrates the importance of Indigenous knowledges in the human services. Making space for the voices of many Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, practitioners, and service users, Cyndy Baskin’s text models possible pathways toward relationship building and allyship.

With practical examples and case studies, Baskin places Indigenous perspectives at the centre of the social work disciplines and covers topics such as spirituality, research, justice, and healing. Robust updates include new chapters on decolonization and reconciliation, as well as expanded content on holistic healing implementation, skill building, land-based practice, and child welfare.

With concise theoretical content, illustrative practical applications, rich pedagogical features, and a focus on centering Indigenous worldviews, knowledge, and helping practices, this text is foundational for educators, practitioners, and students of human services, social work, child and youth care, and more.

Making space for the voices of many Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, practitioners, and service users, Strong Helpers’ Teachings skillfully illustrates the importance of Indigenous knowledges in the human services and demonstrates how these important teachings, including holistic approaches, spirituality, and community ethics, can inform the work of those in the helping professions. Incorporating the voices and perspectives of Indigenous Elders, scholars, and practitioners, and providing illustrative examples through the stories of individuals, families, and communities, this volume covers topics such as spirituality, research, justice, and healing while modelling possible pathways towards relationship building and allyship.

This thoroughly updated edition offers an abundance of current examples and topics and an emphasis on applying and implementing the theoretical content. It includes a new chapter on reconciliation work for helpers, as well as expanded content on holistic healing implementation, land-based practice, child welfare, and Indigenous-to-Indigenous allyship. Strong Helpers’ Teachings is a valuable resource for those interested in sharing, listening, and teaching Indigenous worldviews and helping practices and for students in social work, child and youth studies, health care, and community development programs.