Outreach Services For American Indians
Priscilla R. Sanderson
Director
American Indian Rehabilitation Research and Training Center
Northern Arizona University
Abstract
This paper rejects the "myth" that American Indians and Alaska Natives constitute a homogeneous class, i.e. one showing no internal cultural diversity. The author's term "designing" of services means playing a leadership role in the formulation of services to be offered. Extremely important in outreach services for any given minority group is contact with individuals and understanding cultural practices of the specific minority group. Measures tending to foster understanding and productive contact include: attending pow wows; vigilance in regard to one's dress; knowledge of the various American Indian sovereign groups, and of the highly particular role played by a person's entire family. In developing the key ability of the counselors, which is being highly sensitive to cultural differences, the counselor must appreciate the frequently demonstrated ability of the consumer to be the counselors mentor.
Introduction
The mission of the American Indian Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (AIRRTC), located at Northern Arizona University, is to improve the quality of life for American Indians with disabilities through the conduct of research and training that will result in culturally appropriate and responsive rehabilitation services and increase the participation of American Indians in the design and delivery of services.
Providing outreach service for American Indians and Alaska Natives with disabilities is a challenge to service providers and requires time, energy, and patience in developing rapport with the "Indian Community" resources. The American Indians and Alaska Natives do not represent a homogeneous group. This group comprises less than 1% of the total population in the country, yet they have as much diversity as the remaining 99% (Hodgkinson, Outtz, and Obarakpor, 1990). There are over 309 federally recognized tribes and 197 Alaska Native villages. There are also over 250 different languages still spoken today by the Native people.
The 1990 Census reported that over 240,000 American Indians, Eskimos, or Aleuts resided in California. The majority of this group reside in urban areas, while others reside in reservations and rancherias. Today many of the tribes, unrecognized by the federal government, are in the process of petitioning the Interior Department for formal federal recognition as a tribe. Such recognition is critical to their economic and cultural survival because only recognized tribes are entitled to participate in federal housing, health, and education programs and to maintain their rightful government-to-government relationship with the Federal government in Washington (Echohawk, LA Times, 1990).
Providing outreach services for American Indians involves learning about the people you serve, including; their history, culture, customs, and tribal politics. Rehabilitation counselors and service providers who provide services to American Indians with disabilities must be aware that it is advantageous to seek approval from the tribal government prior to entering their reservations or rancherias. This can be done in a number of ways including the following:
- Appoint a contact person in the reservation or rancheria who works with you to assist you in developing a rapport with the tribal government.
- Write a letter explaining to the tribal government why you want to visit their community, and follow it up with a telephone call.
- Involve the consumer or their family members, if they came to you for services.
Many urban areas have an American Indian center or an inter-tribal council which can be considered by the native people as a gateway to services and a way to get involved in the "Indian Community" affairs. It can benefit the rehabilitation counselors or service providers to visit the Indian Center and find out what types of services are offered. Developing rapport with the staff of the Indian Center can open doors to linking up and sharing services or resources.
The service provider who involves herself/himself in the Indian community by attending pow-wows, craft shows, fund raising, and any other Indian sponsored activity will find himself/herself gaining rapport with the Indian community. It is during these activities and events, usually consisting of intertribal gatherings, that the service provider will notice the pride of the Indian heritage that the native people possess.
Food! Historically food is an important aspect that surrounds events: whether to celebrate, to attend tribal meetings, funerals, or tribal elections. The service provider who wishes to meet with community members to disseminate information on their organization should plan on providing a pot-luck or snacks. Another resource is linking up with the local native community health representative (CHR). The CHR can be considered a referral source and a person who can help you provide assistance to the consumer to increase or maintain his/her independent living or employment goals.
The service provider who goes into the reservation or rancheria must be aware that wearing a suit and tie, or being dressed up may be a barrier to some native people. This may be because they associate formal clothing (suits, ties, or women's business outfits) with a history of government paternalism. Ask a community member about the best way to dress, if you are not sure. Similarly, declaring your credentials, such as a rehabilitation counselor with a master's degree and/or counselor rehabilitation certification (CRC), is not going to assist you in gaining rapport. It takes time for the Indian community to have confidence in you and to witness your sincerity.
The American Indian consumer usually relies on family members to assist in fulfilling his responsibilities during the rehabilitation process. It is important for the service provider to be sure that the consumer and the consumer's family fully understands why you are providing outreach services. The service provider can involve the family members in identifying resources in their community. The service provider needs to ensure that the identified resource is sensitive to cultural differences and that the identified resource agency continues to involve the family in the rehabilitation process.
While exploring outreach services for the American Indians, the service provider must ensure that transportation is available and readily accessible for the consumer. The AIRRTC has conducted research projects on community consumer concerns in Denver (Marshall, Johnson, Martin, Saravanabhavan, 1991), Minneapolis-St. Paul (Marshall, Day-Davilla, Mackin, 1992), and Dallas-Ft. Worth (Schacht, Hickman, Klibaner, 1993). One of the important findings revealed that transportation in the metropolitan areas is one of the barriers to successful rehabilitation encountered by the American Indians with disabilities. Thus, the service providers should not assume that transportation is readily available to the consumer and should ensure that the bus system route and hours are compatible. Family or even extended family can be a good resource in assisting with transportation. Thomason (1991) pointed out:
"All counselors should have a basic understanding of the history and present status of American Indians and should be able to serve members of this group. Although the American Indians are diverse and no one can be knowledgeable about all tribes, there are some similarities in the basic values and beliefs of many American Indians." (p. 326)
Outreach services for American Indians include networking with the tribal, state, and federal agencies, organizations, and schools. The challenge is that of ensuring that these resources will treat your consumer as a person first, who can also be your teacher and also be sensitive to cultural differences. Becoming sensitive to cultural differences can be the seed to becoming culturally sensitive. Developing culturally sensitive strategies in implementing outreach services for American Indians and re-examining the strategies is a priority that all vocational rehabilitation agencies and other service providers to American Indians with disabilities need to follow.
References
Echohawk, J.E. (1990, March 12). The first Californians are still last. Los Angeles Times, p. 5.
Hodgkinson, H.L., Outz, J.H., Obarakpor, A.M. (1990) The Demographics of American Indians: One percent of the people fifty percent of the diversity. Institute for . . Education Leadership, Inc. Center for Demographic Policy.
Marshall, C.A., Day-Davila, C.A., & Mackin, D.E. (1992). The replication of a model for determining community-based needs of American Indians with disabilities through consumer involvement in community planning and change: Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota. Final Report: Phase I. Flagstaff: Northern Arizona University, American Indian Rehabilitation Research and Training Center.
Marshall, C.A., Johnson, M.J., Martin, W.E., Jr., & Saravanbhavan, R.C. (1990). The assessment of a model for determining community-based needs of American Indians with disabilities through consumer involvement in community planning and change: Final Report: Phase I. (Rev. Ed.). Flagstaff: Northern Arizona University, American Indian Rehabilitation Research and Training Center.
Schacht, R.M., Hichman, R., & Klibaner, A. (1993). Needs assessment of American Indians with disabilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Preliminary Report, Phase I. Flagstaff: Northern Arizona University, American Indian Rehabilitation Research and Training Center.
Thomason, T.C. (1991). Counseling Native Americans: An introduction for non-Native American counselors. Journal of Counseling and Development, 69, 321-327.
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Page last updated on March 20, 1997 by Mary Kaye Rubin