From Global Practices to Global Mindedness: Utilizing Reflexivity and Cultural Relevance Towards a Global Indigenization of International Social Work

Abstract

The importance of the decolonization of social work curriculum around the world has increased in the past 10 years. Due to its strong colonial legacy, Social work education, practice, and research are called to break free from Eurocentric western value based theories and methods of practices in the social work profession. Our poster focuses on the concept of global mindedness and reflexivity as the results of a scoping literature review about the development of concepts and related culturally grounded practices in the field of International Social Work in Germany and Canada. Our poster presents the nature and scope of International Social Work in both countries in the context of internationalization, glocalisation, and indigenization. The purpose of our poster is to explore Indigenous Beading as an example to articulate mindedness-reflexivity as locally and culturally relevant practices to Indigenization in the context of International Social Work. Our poster will discuss how practices around the world and existence of global indigeneity that is not essentialized but rather contextualized to be relevant on a micro and macro level of practices can enhance the decolonization of International Social Work practice.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Somnoma Valerie Ouedraogo