Learning from a Murri Way'

Abstract

Under the modernist project indigenous social welfare work approaches have been silenced and relegated to the periphery as deficit theory and practice in the landscape of social work. This positioning has promoted the belief that indigenous expertise and culture is only of relevance for culturally‐sensitive practice. Rejecting this view, I utilize the findings of a study of intra‐group helping amongst Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders—a ‘Murri way’—to argue that social work theory and practice has much to learn from indigenous peoples about the interpersonal helping process. I call for recognition of a space of possibility between indigenous and non‐indigenous practitioners that the indigenous telling creates. This is a space in between these players who do not share a common understanding, a space where players may participate in a dance of difference (dialogue) to help map a common space of understanding.

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