University Programs

Overview

APPLY ON-LINE AT WWW.WLU.CA

The needs most commonly identified by Aboriginal people, as seen often in their public statements and political processes, include self-determination, cultural preservation, and respect for the wholistic healing worldview. The MSW Aboriginal field of study, therefore, will fully and dramatically root itself within the Aboriginal worldview and have as its goal the development of social work practitioners who can seek empowerment for Aboriginal populations so that they can meet the needs that they have identified for themselves.

Students in this Aboriginal field of study are expected to respect and seek to practice within the Aboriginal worldview. This means that along with intellectual development, students will also engage in the development of their spiritual, emotional, and physical selves. They will learn from a diversity of teachers including academic instructors, Elders, Aboriginal ceremonies, and the Aboriginal community. They will be expected to involve themselves in all aspects of the specialized program, which include; cultural camps, classroom work, presentation of themselves to Elders, and in practice settings. They will be evaluated on their academic knowledge and their ability to practice from the Aboriginal worldview.

A Description of the Content and Definition of the New Field

This new field will be available only to applicants with a BSW; for this reason it is termed an Advanced Standing Program.

This program is rooted within the worldview of the Aboriginal people and the concept of wholistic healing as an outcome of practice. The goal is development of social workers who can empower themselves, other individuals and Aboriginal populations to meet the needs that they have identified for a more healthy and balanced existence. Participants engage in the formation of their spiritual, emotional and physical selves.

Learning from a diversity of avenues (academic instructors, Elders, ceremonies, fellow learners and community), learners will be expected to integrate Indigenous teachings and worldviews and involve themselves in all aspects of the program including cultural camps, fasts, classroom work, presentation of self to Elders and field practice. The structure allows participants to remain with family in work settings and in their community while studying and performing in a combination of classroom studies, experiential learning activities, simulations, circle delivery/processes and demonstration projects.

The proposed program will be a five-term program delivered in distance education format with locations for the delivery of courses to be determined by faculty and participants. It is intended that this program will mirror the full-time, on-campus program in content, intent, and instruction with the same expectations regarding assignments, attendance, participation, performance and other learning activities.

Curriculum
TERM 1
SK628 Culture Camp
SK647 Elder's Teaching and Indigenous Identity

TERM 2
SK646 Wholistic Healing Practice
SK649 Practicum (3 days/week)

TERM 3
SK649 Practicum continues
SK635 Indigenous Knowledge and Theory

TERM 4
SK507 Diversity, Marginalization and Oppression
SK649 Aboriginal Kinship Structures and Social Work Practice

TERM 5
SK645 Indigenous Research Methodologies
SK648 Elder's Teachings and Self-reflection (Fasting Camp)
SK*** Elective

THE PRACTICUM
Learners normally complete a minimum of nine courses and a practicum for three days a week over 29 weeks (609 hours) in terms two and three of their program. Agencies need to offer an experience that is consistent with the Traditional wholistic approach. These placements can be in direct service to individuals/families/groups, policy settings, community settings or research oriented.

Practicum supervisors need to have a combination of academic credentials and work experience to meet the developmental needs of graduate students. Preferably this would involve a minimum Master's level degree in the field, a traditional knowledge base and some experience in wholistic healing practices. Aboriginal academic faculty from the Faculty of Social Work or off-site placement instructors hired for this purpose may need to supervise field placements if qualified on-site field instructors are not available.

Admission Criteria

1. Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Social Work degree from an accredited program/university of recognized standing.
2. Academic background must include a half-credit course in research methodology and a half-credit course in statistics. (Students in the Aboriginal Field of Study do not require statistics.)
3. Applicants must have at least a B (73%) standing in the final academic year of their BSW degree (equivalent of 10 half-year courses). For students completing their final year of undergraduate study, eligibility is determined on the basis of the last completed academic year at the time of application.
4. Evidence of paid and/or voluntary experience in human service organizations is required. Awareness of contemporary social issues and social work values, an ability to communicate effectively and a perceived motivation for a career as a professional social worker is assessed on the basis of application material.
5. Although this program is open to all cultural backgrounds, candidates for the Aboriginal field of study must also have some familiarity with the Traditional and wholistic healing approaches and/or have used it in their practice. This will be demonstrated through a personal statement, references and an admissions interview.

Personal Suitability
Upon admission to the Aboriginal Program of study, students will be expected to attend Cultural Camp where they will learn traditional teachings and practices under the instruction of Elders and Aboriginal faculty. This experience will enable Elders and faculty to determine the comfort level of students with this form of instruction and to help students determine their suitability for this field, aside from their intellectual capacity. During the course of the program, students will be evaluated with regard to traditional knowledge, traditional ceremonies and their ability to "carry" and express these teachings in the context of their behaviours and practice.

Students will be expected to garner from the traditional teachings, which may be transmitted orally, the meaning this knowledge contains for them and for the people with whom they will work. They will also be expected to articulate how this understanding fits into their own wholistic healing practice paradigm. It is expected that students may find this new process of learning to be challenging. Therefore students will be guided and supported throughout the program by Elder teachers and Aboriginal faculty to assist them to master this challenging process.

Contact Information
For more information on the program, contact:
Buffy Hill
Phone: 613-396-2122 or 800-267-0637 Ext. 154
Email: buffyh@fnti.net

For more information on the program and course description go to the University website: www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=1844
or
For more general Indigenous social work information go to: www.aboriginalsocialwork.ca
or at
Wilfrid Laurier
Kathy Absolon, Interim Program Coordinator
Phone: 519-884-0710 Ext. 5229
Email: kabsolon@wlu.ca
or
Hope Engel, Administrative Assistant
Phone: 519-884-0710 Ext. 5230
Email: hengel@wlu.ca

Resource Material

Kaandosswin July 2010	Power Point 37 Meg
Terminology	Power Point 1.2 Meg