| Due to the colonial context in Canada many Aboriginal Canadians regularly interact with the social work system. Western social work is based on Western ideals including basic human and individual rights, and adherence to science. Within this model, there are certain expectations of how productive citizens should behave, and the role of the worker is to bring their clients' behaviour more in line with these expectations. This has been described as a form of exercising control over populations using Foucault's concept of governmentality. It seems likely that Aboriginal social workers might practice a form of social work that does not contribute to the governing of Aboriginal Canadians. Through ethnographic research with Aboriginal social workers and non-Aboriginal workers who work primarily with Aboriginal clients, this research compares Aboriginal social work to Western social work practice, and explores whether or not it is possible to help Aboriginal clients without governing them. |
