Walking between worlds

Abstract

The interface between indigenous cultural beliefs and modern industrial culture is explored in this article in relation to first, the perception of indigenous people and second, the implications for culturally sensitive professional practice, from a multicultural and international perspective. The main aims are to contribute to a better understanding of the significance of indigenous belief systems in the formulation of human service practice models; and to the development of a parallel practice or service delivery system for human service organizations based on indigenous cultural beliefs rather than on a dominant Euro-centric approach. Graham (1999) suggests that Euro-centric practice principles constitute the dominant discourse that needs to be complemented by, for example, an African-centered one or a more overarching indigenous-centered approach, which values and emphasizes collective over individualistic conceptions of families, spirituality, relationships and the interconnectedness of all things. Without an indigenous modality we are in danger of losing a unified worldview of reality. Other researchers also discuss the importance of and emphasize the necessity to incorporate indigenous cultural beliefs as part of the service delivery system. (McCallion et al.