Jordan, J. B. (2011). Indigenous psychology in North America: lessons learned from neo- colonialism. Conference Paper at 1st International Conference of Indigenous and Cultural Psychology, University of Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, July 24-27, 2010.

Abstract

A review of the Indigenous Psychology movement in North America. The concept Indigenous psychology is used in North America to describe emerging psychological practice by the indigenous descendants of the pre-colonial Native Americans (NA) or First Nations People. Neo-colonialism in psychology is addressed through the review of the universal common problem – former colonialist countries continue many of the ethnocentric approaches of the colonists’ mindset. In North America, Indigenous psychology and much of cross-cultural psychology remains to be integrated into the science of psychology, applied and otherwise. It is estimated that most Native American psychologists use an integrationist approach, utilize the ” pan-Indian ” phenomenon, and find it difficult to generalize tribal-specific research with other regions. Some central cultural NA values are: A Holistic Relationship of Human Integrated with the Universe; Animism; Spirit-Possession States; The Circle Representing Cosmic Unity; The Use of Shamanic Ceremony; and Respect for Elders and Recognition of ” Medicine People. ” Neo-Colonialism and the concepts ” Best Practices ” and ” Evidence-Based ” are discussed as limited and relative to culture. A brief review of the NA indigenous psychology literature is undertaken: acculturation, enculturation, alcohol abuse, suicide prevention, and traditional approaches to healing are discussed. The concept ” Historical Trauma ” is criticized for stereotyping an otherwise socio-political term, with the reminder that; the politics of history, and especially colonialism-demonstrate that not everything should be explained as a psychological phenomenon.