We are a multicultural group of students and educators at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This blog is a collection of stories, reflections, and critical thought. We aim to further our understanding of ourselves, each other, and the world through the processes using our experience(s), and imagination(s) to create and share knowledge. Our ultimate goal is to increase consciousness, both individually and collectively. While primarily used as a part of an undergraduate course at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, anyone is free to read and comment. Please be thoughtful and respectful.
- The Places of Me
If you take a drive just south of Fairbanks, then turn and head out past Moose Mountain ski hill and the surrounding subdivisions, you’ll eventually find yourself climbing up to Murphey Dome. There’s a turn off there to the left, just before you reach the crest. As you drive past it, you may congratulate yourself… Read more: The Places of Me - Embracing Connection and Change:
Insights from ‘The Critical Social Worker’ Listening to “The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary Storytelling Podcast,” specifically the episode featuring Abbid Quinn Aziz, taught me a lot about the incredible potential of social work. Aziz’s journey from grassroots advocacy to academic leadership was inspiring, and his humility and dedication to human connection over prestige resonated with me. His approach reminded… Read more: Embracing Connection and Change: - “Revolutionizing Change”
Social work is facing new and persistent challenges that require innovative and transformative solutions in today’s fast-paced world. Traditional approaches, while important, do not always sufficiently address the systemic inequalities that are deeply ingrained in our societal structures. This blog is inspired by Angela Y. Davis’s interpretation of the Serenity Prayer and explores the pressing… Read more: “Revolutionizing Change” - From Shadows to Sunlight
Celie’s Journey of Resilience and Transformation in ‘The Color Purple “I’m poor, black. I may even be ugly, but dear God, I’m here. I’m here.” The movie “The Color Purple” was directed by Steven Spielberg and is based on a book that won the Pulitzer Prize. The story is set in the South during the… Read more: From Shadows to Sunlight - Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire is a movie about an orphan, named Jamal Malik, who came from the slums of Mumbai. At 18-years-old, Jamal is acting as a participant on India’s version of “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire”. After using his life experiences to answer each question leading up to it, Jamal makes it to the final… Read more: Slumdog Millionaire - Challenges to Family Life
Human Behavior: Person and Environment – Chapter 10 (pages 334-341) Chapter 10 of our textbook discusses some of the different, more common, challenges to one’s family life. The three challenges discussed are family violence, divorce and relationship dissolution, and substance abuse. Family Violence When you think of your family, or other families, or if you… Read more: Challenges to Family Life - Snapshot to Social Work
- My Life
At Six month old David Shelton On Stage singing with Brazilian Jazz Artist Sean Blackman. Welcome to My Journey: A Tale of Resilience and Renewal Hey everyone, I’m David Shelton. I’m originally from Toledo, Ohio, but now I’m living in Shungnak, Alaska, and loving it. This blog is my journey through the significant stages of… Read more: My Life - The Future is Angry
(Image obtained from https://images.tandf.co.uk/common/jackets/crclarge/978100319/9781003194842.jpg) Summary of the Book “Anger and Social Work” by Paul Michael Garrett offers a refined examination of the intricate connections between anger and social work practice. Garrett discusses the multifaceted nature of anger, examining its forms, anger triggers, and underlying psychological mechanisms. He expresses that anger can manifest as a response… Read more: The Future is Angry - THE CRITICAL SOCIAL WORKER: EPISODE 50
In this episode the guests are G Ford, Chris Flores, and Maui Loa. They all met in Hawaii while the host Christian Stettler taught them at the college in Hawaii. G Ford works for a Dialysis Center, more in the nephrology area of social work, in the medical area. He grew up with a tough… Read more: THE CRITICAL SOCIAL WORKER: EPISODE 50 - The Process of Healing
This is the first place to give me a job in Alaska. It was April 2017 when I had my interview with Vickie Rose. Vickie and Brent owned and ran Oil&Vinegar in the 5th Ave Mall. They taught me so many things and showed me kindness that I was not expecting. The reason I chose… Read more: The Process of Healing - What Made Me, Me?
How else can I start my story of life and environment experiences without my parents? These pictures were taken in 1990 (S. Andrews and J. Creed, Authentic Alaska Voices of Its Native Writers) There was a freeze up in Kotzebue, AK where we lived and the temperature was minus 40 degrees at the time. My… Read more: What Made Me, Me? - Photos of Me
Photos brings us back to a time gone but not forgotten. Memories last a life time with the people we love. Time is not ours to keep so every minute , hours, days and months should be used to make something good out of it. Life’s perspectives are built on persons in environment and person… Read more: Photos of Me - Moonlight
A Film Analysis Moonlight (2016) is an Oscar-winning film that follows Chiron, a young boy, through various life stages, highlighting his struggles with family, identity, race, sexuality, and masculinity. This blog explores the film’s unique elements as it relates to the social work profession, and some overall thoughts regarding the main character in question. Chiron… Read more: Moonlight - Abolitionist Social Work
The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary story telling podcast. On the 48th episode of Professor Christian Stettler’s podcast The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary story telling podcast. Professor Christian invited Alan Dettlaff to share his thoughts and to help educate us on abolitionist principles/perspectives. Quick BIO Alan Dettlaff is a social work professor, author, and… Read more: Abolitionist Social Work - The Ways I’ve Been Shaped
We All Need Some Sand Sandy Beach, Douglas AK, January 17, 2024 To begin my story, I must start from one of the most impactful places, Juneau, AK – specifically Douglas. This is the famous Sandy Beach! I’ve had many experiences at Sandy Beach, that formed me into who I am today. I started coming… Read more: The Ways I’ve Been Shaped - Girl Interrupted
This is a movie (based on a book) about a young college age woman named Susanna. Susanna grew up in a very wealthy and influent family, the type of family that appears perfect on the outside and will do anything to keep that image up. This movie is based almost entirely on the idea that… Read more: Girl Interrupted - Biden
Social Stance and Background General Background, Family History For this blog, I chose to focus on Joe Biden as it relates to social justice, policy and welfare. Given the fact that there has been growing concern in terms of his ability to lead our country, I believe that it is also worthwhile to give this… Read more: Biden - Parasite
The main theme of Parasite is about class conflict, social inequality and wealth disparity between the rich and poor. The film was taken in South Korea. The Kims are the poor family and the Parks are the rich family. In this film, the Kim’s needed to survive and decided, as a family and imposter’s to… Read more: Parasite - Recognizing the Intersections Between Hatred and Redemption: Has anything you’ve done made your life better? (Dr. Sweeney)
American History X, a dark and intriguing film released in 1998, dives into the complex intersections of race, hatred, and societal redemption in America. Directed by Tony Kaye and starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong, the film offers a brutal and raw portrayal of the consequences of racism and the possibility of personal transformation. Beyond… Read more: Recognizing the Intersections Between Hatred and Redemption: Has anything you’ve done made your life better? (Dr. Sweeney) - Environmental Connections: A Reflection on Mother Earth
Kris Clarke and Dr. Michael YellowBird approach the impact of climate change on social work and human existence from a, rightfully, critical perspective in Chapter 9 of Decolonizing Pathways towards Integrative Healing in Social Work: Mother Earth. “Settler colonial extractive capitalist activities during the Anthropocene have degraded the environment and our integrative relationships with one… Read more: Environmental Connections: A Reflection on Mother Earth - Its Not What It SeemsThe Start Parasite is a compelling movie that shows the inequality in South Korea. It is dark and hard to watch. You get sucked into a poverty stricken family’s lives. None of the family has jobs. They can’t afford to sent their kids to college, which is a requirement for higher paying jobs. They can… Read more: Its Not What It Seems
- The Color Purple (1985)
“You and Me, Us never part, Makidada. You and Me, Us have one heart, Makidada. Ain’t no ocean, ain’t no sea, Makidada. Keep my sistah away from me, Makidada” ”Makidada”, translates to “little sister” in the Swahili language. “The Color Purple” is a captivating and emotional film that surrounds the story of a young African… Read more: The Color Purple (1985) - Episode 47: The Critical Social Worker Podcast
Introduction to The Critical Social Worker The Critical Social Worker is a podcast which was created by host, Christian Stettler. The goal of this podcast is to combined various and diverse stories, perspectives and experiences in order to revitalize the act of storytelling and to expand the knowledge of the social work field using real-life… Read more: Episode 47: The Critical Social Worker Podcast - Diversity, Family, the Helping Field
Ask yourself to answer the following as two separate concepts… “What is diversity”? Now, ask yourself…”What is a family?”. I will start. To me, when I think of the word “diversity”, or, to be “diverse”, I automatically think of people. Whoever is reading this now (and by the way, thanks for choosing MY blog out… Read more: Diversity, Family, the Helping Field - Capturing Imagines that will last forever.
From Left to right: Mother, daughter, Sister, me and my Father, Spouse took the Picture This Picture means a lot to me because it’s our first family trip! A big one at that! We (my daughter, my spouse, and myself) went to Hawaii to visit my mother and to see my little sister graduate! My… Read more: Capturing Imagines that will last forever. - “It’s Not Dark Yet, but It’s Getting There: Global Crises, Social Work and Resistance”
This chapter focuses on the negative ripple effects of capitalism on a global scale. With a heavy emphasis on past/current social work policies and practices. According to Merriam Webster, Capitalism can be defined as an “economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decisions, and… Read more: “It’s Not Dark Yet, but It’s Getting There: Global Crises, Social Work and Resistance” - Who Is RFK JrWho Is RFK Jr By David Shelton Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an independent candidate with a strong activism history. As a Kennedy family member, he follows the legacy of his father and uncle and is committed to public service and social justice. His platform focuses on practical solutions to critical issues, and he believes… Read more: Who Is RFK Jr
- Standoff at Wounded Knee- 1973
I would like to start of with this paragraph, “For centuries, America and the New World have become ideas and synonyms that convey a sense of wonder and possibility made manifest by discovery, a historical act in which explorers are the protagonists. They are its actors and subjects. They think and name, conquer and settle,… Read more: Standoff at Wounded Knee- 1973 - The Things I’d Say If I Could Talk
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) is a film that follows a pregnant woman, Tish, and her artist fiancé, Fonny, who was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit in the 1970s. The movie is based on Beale Street in New Orleans, Louisiana and New York City, New York. It trails the couple, who… Read more: The Things I’d Say If I Could Talk - How Professional Culture can be a Hurdle to Connection
The Critical Social Worker podcast unfolds unique stories and diverse perspectives to foster critical dialogue, empathy, and understanding for all listeners. Through storytelling, we aim to change ourselves and the world, one story at a time. In this episode of The Critical Social Worker, Josie Heyano and Christian Ace Stettler discuss a variety of experiences… Read more: How Professional Culture can be a Hurdle to Connection - Emotions and Change
Emerging Perspectives One of the biggest things, when it comes to social change, is what fuels that change. We have looked at political, what causes a movement to go, and the cutural reasoning behind things. When it comes to emerging perspective, they are looking at the underlining things that those three have in common. That… Read more: Emotions and Change - Quiet and Contemplation
A chapter about postcolonial trauma and memory work from Kris Clark and Dr. Michael YellowBird. This chapter begins with a thought-inspiring story from Kris Clark regarding the quiet reputation of Finland. The Finnish Tourist Board has based their marketing campaign around the promise of a “calm, clean, and simple way of life for visitors”. Using… Read more: Quiet and Contemplation - Photo Story
In the photograph taken during my trip to Hawaii for my eighth birthday, the warmth of the sun blankets my face as I stand on the golden sands of Waikiki Beach. Date was on the 9th of June, this photo showcases a moment frozen in time, capturing the carefree essence of my childhood. At the… Read more: Photo Story - Outside of the Norm
Born 1953, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dr. Cornel West is an American Philosopher who completed his undergraduate degree at Harvard university and his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy at Princeton University. Dr. West is also known for his deep-rooted connection with Christianity. Although he isn’t a preach or pastor per say there is plenty… Read more: Outside of the Norm - Podcast: Dr. Benjamin Lukey
Dr. Benjamin Lukey is a Philosophy Associate Professor at UH of Manoa. On top of being a professor, he spends three days a week in public schools facilitating dialogue groups for the organization Philosophy for Children (P4C) (if you have time, I’ve included a youtube video about what P4C is all about). The process of… Read more: Podcast: Dr. Benjamin Lukey - “Into the wild” a journey of one’s definition of freedom.
The film starts off by taking you through Fairbanks, Alaska, which was cool because I do not recall ever seeing Alaska land or the Big I in a film before seeing into the wild. Right of the bat you are witnessing Christopher McCandless’s (main character) arrival to Alaska. Chris is dropped off by a guy… Read more: “Into the wild” a journey of one’s definition of freedom. - “ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE”
This quote was used as a slogan for the Black Panthers to protest the oppression and the struggles of all people all over the world. This video is called “THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975“, which can be found on YouTube. A group of Swedish people wanted to come together and create a film in order… Read more: “ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE” - Philosophy for Child, P4C
The Critical Social Worker podcast unfolds unique stories and diverse perspectives to foster critical dialogue, empathy, and understanding for all listeners. Through story telling we aim to change ourselves, and the world one story at a time. Principles of the podcast are to : Foster critical dialogue, reflection, and critical consciousness. Use storytelling as a… Read more: Philosophy for Child, P4C - Decolonizing Pathways towards Integrative Healing in Social Work – Chapter 6: MOVEMENT
Introduction Chapter 6 began with statistics on suicide data: According to CDC, there was a 25% increase on suicide deaths between 1999 and 2016 .The population of White men in the United States are rising and are caused by self infliction. Indigenous and Aboriginal populations have a higher rate of White population in Australia, Canada,… Read more: Decolonizing Pathways towards Integrative Healing in Social Work – Chapter 6: MOVEMENT - Two Worlds
Cross-continental Journeys: Dr. M bise on Language, Migration, Health and More Dr. M. Bise was featured as a guest on “The Critical Social” podcast with Professor Christian Settler. In episode 44, “Cross-continental Journey’s: Language Migration, Health, and social work” discuss topics centering around language, black perspectives in Alaska, migration and more. Christian starts the podcast… Read more: Two Worlds - Photo Story: A Visual Journey through Time, Space, and Place
Throughout my life, I have been shaped by the many places that I have lived in or visited. Earlier on in my life, my family moved often, which led me to live in a variety of different cities and places, such as Parchment, Kalamazoo, Portage, Florida, and most recently, Battle Creek. However, it isn’t just… Read more: Photo Story: A Visual Journey through Time, Space, and Place - Smoke Signals
Smoke Signals is about life on and Indian Reservation in 1976. They are in Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation, Idaho. It starts off with a family hosting a 4th of July party at their home and it was the largest party in their history, then at 3:00 in the morning, everyone was passed out on couches,… Read more: Smoke Signals - “The Spiritual Rollercoaster: The Ups, Downs, and the Real”
What’s up, class? Welcome to Mr. Shelton’s virtual blog classroom. Today, we will “dive” or look or contemplate or as we would say in my Detroit home, “We gonna analyze the sit-che-ation” into a super exciting topic from our textbooks: Theories of Spiritual Development. The relevant discussion in our textbooks is on pages 171 to… Read more: “The Spiritual Rollercoaster: The Ups, Downs, and the Real” - Place Attachment & Homelessness
Place Attachment is the process by which individuals and groups form bonds with places. It is a multidimensional phenomenon involving person, place, and psychological process of attachment Person (individual and group levels): Individual place attachment develops out of personally important experiences. Group place attachment develops out of symbolic meanings of a group. Place: A space… Read more: Place Attachment & Homelessness - One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
The multicultural ensemble of “One Who Flew Overthe Cuckoo’s Nest” is a microcosm of Americansociety in the ’60s. Native American Chief Bromdenfaces challenges related to his heritage and identity in a culture where white people hold most of the power. Coming from an unknown place, Randle McMurphy has a history of criminal activities. It is… Read more: One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) - The Critical Social Worker
Episode 44: Cross-Continental Journeys | Dr. Amana Mbise on Language, Migration, Health, Social Work Episode 44 was mainly about Dr. Amana Mbise, and his journey of becoming and living as a revolutionary social worker. He is originally from Tanzania, which is a country based in East Africa, and is one of eight children. He is… Read more: The Critical Social Worker - Episode 44: Cross Continental Journeys – an interview with Dr. Amana Mbise
The Critical Social worker can be heard live on Saturday mornings at 9am: https://riverside.fm/studio/aces-studio-T1Ehj Links to an external site. Currently Dr. Mbise is a professor of Social Work at UAA, though his journey originally had him in the realm of sociology. His choice to move into social work stemmed from wanting to not only study… Read more: Episode 44: Cross Continental Journeys – an interview with Dr. Amana Mbise - “Slow Motion Car Crash” – Marianne Williamson
Who Is Marianne Williamson Marianne Williamson is an accomplished 71-year-old author. She has publish 15 books with 4 of them being “#1 New York Times best sellers”. She is a spiritual leader and runs workshops on how to tap into yourself. In 1989, she founded a non-profit to feed homebound patients. In 2004, she co-founded… Read more: “Slow Motion Car Crash” – Marianne Williamson - Paradise is Many Places
This blog is really interesting to me because I see myself as someone who doesn’t connect with places as much as I do with people. Exploring how these have shaped me has been a really cool learning experience. I was born in Blue Springs, Missouri on July 21st, 2004. During my birth, I was born… Read more: Paradise is Many Places - Breaking Barriers: Creating Inclusive Environments for Persons with Disabilities
In this blog post I will break down key concepts that I noticed and considerations related to the Accessible Environments for Persons with Disabilities portion of the textbook. I will be highlighting the importance of addressing societal barriers and promoting equal opportunities for individuals of all abilities. Understanding Disability as a Social Construct Drawing from… Read more: Breaking Barriers: Creating Inclusive Environments for Persons with Disabilities - Trump & Ideology: Working with Clients with Different Views
IntroductionThe social work profession is one that very much requires navigating, specifically in the social sense though. Within the U.S., the way disagreements are handled, especially in the political arena, have on average become more and more about “winning” rather than resolving or addressing an issue. It is the goal of this blog post to… Read more: Trump & Ideology: Working with Clients with Different Views - Post Colonial Trauma and Memory Work
According to our text, Trauma has been clinically defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that exists along a complex spectrum affecting childhood development with lifelong emotional and physical conse-quences ( Briere and Spinazzola, 2005 ). Trauma is the result of a high level of stress that stretches beyond the mind’s capacity to process… Read more: Post Colonial Trauma and Memory Work - The Story of a Country Girl
So, the first thing that we have to start with for my story is the city of Griffin. In 1998, a baby girl was born in January into the loving arms of Kansas. (Yes! My mother’s name is Kansas, just like the state). She is the one who teaches me to be a strong independent… Read more: The Story of a Country Girl - (no title)
Spirituality is “a process of human life and development focusing on the search for a sense of meaning, purpose, morality, and well-being; in relationship with oneself, other people, other beings, the universe, and ultimate reality however understood (e.g., in animistic, atheistic, nontheistic, polytheistic, theistic, or other ways); orienting around centrally significant priorities; and engaging a… Read more: (no title) - Photos Worth Many Words
Nashville, Tennessee is where I’ve spent most of my life. My family moved there in 1996 when I was 4 years old. When I was 17 I moved out of my mom’s house and lived with a friend on the other side of the city until I after my 19th birthday (2013). I moved back… Read more: Photos Worth Many Words - The Journey Back to Jingalong
The Rabbit-Proof Fence is a phenomenal film and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. To briefly review, the film is based on a true story about three girls named Molly, Daisy, and Gracie, who are indigenous children from a small village in Australia –Jingalong. The three girls are taken by government authorities and… Read more: The Journey Back to Jingalong - Traversing the World of Beliefs: An Exploration into Spirituality
Social work is a profession dedicated to improving the well-being of individuals and communities. In this improved well-being, spirituality plays a crucial role in shaping the holistic approach of social workers. In this blog we will be exploring a few concepts, such Canda and Furman’s “five broad historic phases”, the implications of spirituality as it… Read more: Traversing the World of Beliefs: An Exploration into Spirituality - Places that Shaped Me
The Space Where My Story Started Villages That Shaped My Early Years Love and Loss Survival Finding Sobriety Out of the Darkness - The spiritual dimension
Spirituality is defined as “”a process of human life and development”. Where someone seeks out their purpose, meaning, morality and well-being. They are able to be in a relationship with themselves, other people, other things, the universe etc. You orient yourself around significant priorities and engage in transcendence. Spirituality is often confused with Religion however… Read more: The spiritual dimension - YoU aRe FiReD!
In order to discuss Donald Trump, we must first define revolutionary social work, and understand neoliberalism. Revolutionary social work concerns a common struggle against an unsustainable neoliberal world order that has resulted in increasing inequalities, conflicts, and social and ecological problems. The neoliberal capitalist system is not capable of solving challenging socio-economic, political and ecological… Read more: YoU aRe FiReD! - Embracing Identity: A Journey of Self-Discovery as an Asian LGBTQ+ IndividualMichelle’s journey into her Indigenous heritage resonated deeply with me, as I have navigated the complex road of identity, particularly as an Asian person and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Much like Michelle, my journey of self-discovery has been shaped by a deep dive into my cultural roots and an exploration of my authentic… Read more: Embracing Identity: A Journey of Self-Discovery as an Asian LGBTQ+ Individual
- How Our Minds Communicate?
To communicate through our minds, when we first see someone, we say hello, hey, whats up, good morning, morning, or something like that. Now, when Ilarion “Kuuyux” Merculieff greets his community, they say “the morning taste good” and “hello my other self”, which in his language is Ang Wan. Do you see the difference between… Read more: How Our Minds Communicate? - Michon Whiterose, LCSW: Her Story
From Chistochina, Alaska, Michon Whiterose is currently on her journey to achieve her PhD in Indigenous Studies program all the while creating a study on an auto-ethnography of wellness practices and discuss how these practices affected her in a positive manner. She works at a program dedicated to helping Alaskan Natives heal from generation trauma,… Read more: Michon Whiterose, LCSW: Her Story - You make a difference in me and others.
Chapter 5 Covered Relationships, stress and coping. The section I was task with teaching covered Relational Theory, Attachment Theory, Impact of Early Nurturing on Development, Feminist Theories of Relationships and Social Identity Theory. While this section had a lot to cover, I wanted the Relational Theory and the Attachment Theory to be my focal point.… Read more: You make a difference in me and others. - Revolutionary People
Revolutionary Social Work is a powerful concept and one that I didn’t begin to understand until recently. Before diving into it, I noticed something interesting, which I believe our professor pointed out in one of the earlier lectures, but the concept of revolutionary social work isn’t thaaaat talked about in the United States. And I… Read more: Revolutionary People - The City & Me: A Photo Story
IntroductionHi everyone, my name is Lane Hubbard. You have probably read at least one of my blogs by now and possibly one of the ones that go over me, myself, or I, but if not then this portion is here to fill you in on a little bit about me before we get to the… Read more: The City & Me: A Photo Story - Episode 42: Heart Wisdom and Talking Circles: A Dialogue with Ilarion Merculieff
Ilarion Merculieff, a revered Unangan Elder known for his dedication to advocating for Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship. The host for this podcast is Professor Christian Stettler from UAF Social Worker Department. The Critical Social Worker Podcast is a Conscious Party platform for talking circles and a sacred space for understanding, listening and healing of… Read more: Episode 42: Heart Wisdom and Talking Circles: A Dialogue with Ilarion Merculieff - Under Pressure
The seasons are changing, midterms are here, our kids and our parents are getting older, the bills keep coming, bosses are asking more of us (often without incentive or compensation), we’re more diagnosed than at any other time in history, and the economy is… what it is. And for many of us and our clients,… Read more: Under Pressure - Lessons in Indigenous Wisdom: Insights from Ilarion Merculieff
Ilarion Merculieff Ilarion Merculieff is a distinguished Indigenous leader renowned for his advocacy, wisdom, and commitment to serving his people, the Unangan (Aleut) of the Pribilof Islands, and Indigenous communities globally. With over four decades of experience in various leadership roles, Ilarion has made significant contributions locally, nationally, and internationally. As the first Alaska Native… Read more: Lessons in Indigenous Wisdom: Insights from Ilarion Merculieff - Roses Have Thorns
I was charged in creating a blog over the podcast from Ilarion Merculieff. He talked about so many points that all deserve to be looked at more. Because of this, I have decided to break down to the points that kept me thinking. These are: Heart Wisdom Distractions Reactive Instead of Listening Heart Wisdom What… Read more: Roses Have Thorns - Thunderheart (1992)
- Coping and Adaptation
Coping can be defined as the conscious and unconscious efforts we put in to solve problems and reduce stress in our lives.Adaption refers to the adjustments we make to our lifestyle, perceptions, or biological responses. I want to start by highlighting three specific views on how our minds and body cope. Biological CopingInvolves the body’s… Read more: Coping and Adaptation - Pan’s Labyrinth -Trauma, Morality and Free WillPan’s Labyrinth is considered a dark fairytale. It takes place after the Spanish civil war. The young girl Ofelia, who the story centers around, is the only child of her mother who was left widowed after the war. Her mother remarries Captain Vidal, who is a fascist and morally corrupt, and becomes pregnant. Ofelia and… Read more: Pan’s Labyrinth -Trauma, Morality and Free Will
- Exploring the Depths of “Pan’s Labyrinth”
In Guillermo del Toro’s haunting masterpiece, “Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006), we are transported to the tumultuous environment of post-Civil War Spain. Against this stage, we follow the journey of Ofelia, a young girl who discovers a mystical labyrinth that leads her into a world of wonder and danger. Origins and Settings The characters in “Pan’s Labyrinth”… Read more: Exploring the Depths of “Pan’s Labyrinth” - Tradition and Leading from the Heart
Ilarion (Larry) Merculieff was born in St. Paul, Alaska and is known as one of the last Unangan (Aleut) raised with a traditional upbringing. Ilarion has served multiple prestigious positions. He is the founder and president of the Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeways (CGILL). He was the first Alaska Native commissioner of the… Read more: Tradition and Leading from the Heart - Wiinga, Yuillquq-llu: The Tundra and I
Ciumek, Napaskiaq: First, Napaskiak Napaskiak is the village that housed, nurtured, and grew me. Since its population is under 400 people, everyone knows everyone, and everyone is related to each other, or at least distantly. My values and morals developed in this village, by elders speaking to my classmates and I during school, and learning… Read more: Wiinga, Yuillquq-llu: The Tundra and I - The places of me
My story starts in Palmer, Alaska. I was born to a Pastor and a school teacher, both missionaries in Alaska far removed from their southern upbringings. I have a brother who is three and a half years older than me and had a very strong personality. My parents used to tell me that I didn’t… Read more: The places of me - Self, Soul, and Flow
Our textbook asks the question, “How would you define self?” I tried and I was left speechless. It wasn’t until after reading the different perspectives addressed in our textbook that I felt like I could come up with some sort of answer. If you continue reading my blog, keep that question in the back of… Read more: Self, Soul, and Flow - Learning the land from one another
Inupiat values are a lot different than western culture when it comes to the land. The Inupiat people believe they aren’t the owners of the land the land owns itself. They believe in preserving the land, respecting it and using the resources of the land in moderation. The Picture of above shows raw land without… Read more: Learning the land from one another - How Much of Our Minds Do We Actually Use?There are terms that I found really helpful in this chapter so I am going to list them here so that you can read them. In Gardner’s eight intelligence theory, the brain is not looked at as just a whole thing but as a central unit that has different areas that help with cognitive functions.… Read more: How Much of Our Minds Do We Actually Use?
- The Meaning Behind Global Water
Cultural Perspectives As a social worker we are encouraged to learn and respect different cultures around the world. Especially being in America we are a country that has always been very diverse culturally. Many cultures view water as significant among their traditions, rituals, and daily lives. In some cultures, water is revered as sacred, symbolizing… Read more: The Meaning Behind Global Water - Theories of Emotion
The human brain is physically wired for emotion. While feeling emotion is a brain function, the hypothalamus plays a major role in mediation its manifestation. However, categorizing these preprogrammed feelings cognitively is another aspect of emotion. Primary Emotions and Secondary Emotions Emotions are classified as primary or secondary by theorists. Primary Emotions might have developed… Read more: Theories of Emotion - Faluwasch: “Our Land”
When I think of the “Places of Me“, the only thing that really comes to me is the island I am from. Saipan is a small island located in the Western Pacific Ocean. I have not been anywhere else but here, and I am proud to say I love the island I am from. There… Read more: Faluwasch: “Our Land” - Good Will Hunting: The Fear of HappinessIntroductionThe movie Good Will Hunting follows a young man named Will Hunting in his early 20s who is extremely intelligent, but consistently has a hard time holding down a job and constantly gets into fights or other various trouble with law enforcement. Will has grown up and spent his entire life living in south Boston,… Read more: Good Will Hunting: The Fear of Happiness
- Decolonizing Trauma Through Indigenous Practices
Expanding Our View of Trauma and Healing Intergenerational Trauma and Indigenous Healing Practices The Path Towards Healing and Decolonization - Navigating Ideological Currents: Social Work Responses to Policy Proposals by Vivek RamaswamyVivek Ramaswamy, is known for his conservative political views and business acts, he has proposed policy ideas that may not consistently align with the core principles of social work. I will try to examine how his proposals and ideologies intersect with these principles by using sources that I have gathered from different outlets. In terms… Read more: Navigating Ideological Currents: Social Work Responses to Policy Proposals by Vivek Ramaswamy
- Man Belongs to Earth, Man Has Spirituality, Spirituality is Founded in Earth
This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. Kawagley, A.O & Chief Sealth… Read more: Man Belongs to Earth, Man Has Spirituality, Spirituality is Founded in Earth - Indigenous Emotional Perspectives
This Week’s Textbook Material Summary: Psychology: The mind’s mental way of processing information, in both the cognitive and emotional way (pg. 219) Cognition: The conscious thinking process – in-taking outside information, reflecting on it, making a plan of action, and undergoing the action is cognition in a Social Work perspective (pg. 219) Emotion: State of… Read more: Indigenous Emotional Perspectives - The People Who Never Give Up The Fight No Matter The Circumstance
Does anyone know the one thing that you need to be in a field like ours? Any show of hands? Alright, Let’s see…….. Elizabeth (Girl in the green Shirt)! Elizabeth: You need to have a fighting spirit. Good, Yes you do need to have a fighting spirit. Does anyone know why you need to have… Read more: The People Who Never Give Up The Fight No Matter The Circumstance - Podcast Reflection: Dr. Lesther Papa
Mission Statement:The Critical Social Worker podcast unfolds unique stories and diverse perspectives to foster critical dialogue, empathy, and understanding for all listeners. Through storytelling, we aim to change ourselves and the world, one story at a time. The Critical Social Worker podcast offers an insightful probe into the social work landscape through fascinating discussions. It… Read more: Podcast Reflection: Dr. Lesther Papa - There is No Gene for Fate
Exploring the Ethical Dilemmas of Genetic Engineering The conversation around genetic engineering is exciting, intimidating, and, at times, confusing- but it is certainly one that needs to continue as medical and technological advancements continue to present opportunities for improvements in both quality and length of life. In Gattaca, we’re able to imagine some of those… Read more: There is No Gene for Fate - Indigenous Science is Real, Proven Science
This blog will be focused more on Indigenous science as a whole, since there is not a lot of information on the Indigenous perspective on biology specifically. Colonialism comes in all forms and for Indigenous peoples, colonialism meant the eradication and replacement of all forms of Indigenous thought and practice. Anything thought of and practiced… Read more: Indigenous Science is Real, Proven Science - My Story Through Pictures
Childhood Home. Picture taken in 2011 This is the home I grew up in. This is not the home where I came home from the hospital when I was born. I moved into this house when my parents got divorced and my dad sold his family home. My dad and stepmom and younger sister still… Read more: My Story Through Pictures - “The Pianist”
“The Pianist” is a cinematic exploration of survival, resilience, and human behavior in extreme situations. “The Pianist” is a movie that came out in 2002 and was directed by Roman Polanski. It tells the story of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist and composer, and shows how he manages to survive during World War II. It’s… Read more: “The Pianist” - Decolonizing the Way of All Life
Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being Summary of both the film and the book: In the beginning, there were Indigenous peoples in Alaska, before kass’at/white people came to the land. The villages were rich with culture, traditions, music, and yuuyaraq, the sets of rules that corrected the behavior of all peoples. When the missionaries… Read more: Decolonizing the Way of All Life - Land Acknowledgements
truth telling and resistance… Decolonization means undoing the effects of colonization by consciously considering to what degree we and the world we live in have been manipulated, controlled, misled, and silenced by the processes and structures of colonialism. With this knowledge, we seek to engage in truth tellingintelligent and calculated resistanceand decolonized nation-rebuilding that honors… Read more: Land Acknowledgements - My Photo Story
9311 Jorwoods Drive – South Texas (1995-2005?) Pictured above, is my childhood home. The house I grew up in, in South Texas, and the place where all of my childhood memories took place. I have moved around to a lot of different houses throughout my lifetime, but this is the only one I remember every… Read more: My Photo Story - Follow the Yellow Brick Road….
I bet when you read the title the first thing that came to your mind was The Wizard of Oz! I used to always think that until I found myself in the snow miles away from home undergoing substance abuse treatment at no other than Hazelden. My stay there for the following 30 days landed… Read more: Follow the Yellow Brick Road…. - Social Worker.
In the podcast Empowerment as Practice with Marya Wright she addressed some real concerns that social workers face. My title is her merchandise brand meaning social worker period. One thing that Marya said which I thought was very meaningful was “embrace being a social worker now, not in 4 years when you get your degree”.… Read more: Social Worker.
I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things the things I cannot accept.
angela y. davis
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We are a multicultural group of students and educators at University of Alaska Fairbanks. This blog is a collection of stories, reflections, and critical thought. .
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