Cyndy Baskin. Strong Helpers' Teachings: The Value of Indigenous Knowledges in the Helping Professions

Abstract

Cyndy Baskin. Strong Helpers' Teachings: The Value of Indigenous Knowledges in the Helping Professions. Toronto, ON: Canadian Scholars' Press, Inc. 2010. 278 pp. $39.95 sc. As the discipline of Aboriginal studies continues to grow, an increased degree of specialization becomes evident. This book, although somewhat mistitled, is one such volume, and significantly adds useful insights to this field of study. Although the author purports to discuss helping professions per se, almost all of the chapters in the book specifically address the practice of social work. There are virtually no references to counseling, nursing, or pastoral ministry, all of which appear to be in the business of helping people. Baskin's tack in pointing out the value of First Nations knowledges (as though to imply that there are several different kinds in existence) is intriguing, to say the least. I suggest this because the 14 chapter titles seem to illuminate two distinct paths--purely academic and quite practical. Examples of academically inclined chapters include chapter three (Current Theories and Models of Social Work as Seen Through an Indigenous Lens), chapter four (Centering All Helping Approaches), chapter eleven (Pedagogy), and chapter twelve (Research). Chapters featuring a more practical bent include chapter two (The Self is Always First in the Circle), chapter seven (The Answers Are in the Community), chapter eight (Spirituality), chapter nine (Healing Justice), and chapter fourteen (The End of the World as We Know It). Baskin does an excellent job of inserting and interpreting a number of fundamental precepts of Aboriginal philosophy including the importance of the circle, value of elder input (the word Elder is capitalized for some reason), importance of the extended family, Indigenous ties to the land, the role of storytelling, and, of course, spirituality as the foundation of life. I am quite convinced that no one will grasp the intended purpose of Baskin's discourse without appreciating the underlying importance of these values. As an educator I was naturally drawn to chapter eleven on pedagogy, hoping to derive new insights for practice. Having worked in Indigenous communities for nearly a half century, I found myself on familiar ground. Baskin appropriately references the value of storytelling, particularly since Native legends are often used by elders to encourage hearers to form their own conclusions. Baskin's definition of learning steps--watching, learning, and doing are reminiscent of what I learned in Blackfoot country--are the four steps used to inculcating a concept or practice: listening, watching, participating, and teaching. …

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