Print Page   |   Contact Us   |   Sign In   |   Join NASW
News & Press: NASW-MI News

NASW Michigan Recognizes Two Social Work Trailblazers

Saturday, December 10, 2022   (0 Comments)

NASW-Michigan Recognizes the Efforts of Dr. Suzanne Cross & Bridie Johnson

 

Upon meeting with both Dr. Cross & Bridie Johnson, I was left with a different perspective on how we as social workers engage in cultural competency. Many times we approach this professional value behind a keyboard and monitor to obtain information; however, it is often forgotten that lived experience will serve as more valuable than any search engine findings. I encourage all members to take the time to make human connections with those of differing backgrounds than your own. This is the best way to increase cultural competence and practice cultural humility we as social work professionals & students strive for. It is important to remember that these are best seen as journeys than destinations in that there is always more to learn and no one will be completely culturally competent or humble, but it our ethical duty to strive to increase cultural competence & practice cultural humility.

 

A large percentage of the Native & Indigenous community members are living in and integrated into our communities & we need to acknowledge the atrocities of those that have came before us and strive to dismantle offensive & racist acts. It is our responsibility to take an anti-oppressive approach in making a more inclusive environment of acceptance and respect for members of the Native & Indigenous communities. We can do this by calling out explicitly harmful behaviors &hold others accountable regardless of intention. Additionally, we can consciously recognize the wrongdoings that have taken place in the creation of the United States through colonization, assimilation practices, & erasure of cultures. It is worth noting that many traditions, languages, & customs have been lost forever due to these practices. We also need to question why there is a threshold for "how much" someone can be native based on percentage and recognize that oppression is generational and all native & indigenous descendants have been effected negatively by colonization. Silence is compliance.

 

Julia McClellan(she, her, hers) NASW-MSW Student Intern

 

    Bridie Johnson, LMSW-Clinical & Macro, LCSW, ICAADC, CCS, IBCLC, IFSD

     

    (two-spirit, she, they)

     

    Bridie is a direct descendent of now so-called Canada, Chippewa of the Garden River, First Nations, also known as Ketegaunzeebee. This is an Ojibwe band located at Garden River #14 located near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She is currently the Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Bridie currently serves on the NASW-Michigan Ethics Committee & has done work as an indigenous full spectrum doula including end of life and abortion work. Additionally, she has participated on work regarding missing and indigenous women in Michigan on the MI Human Trafficking Task Force. Bridie is constantly working on increasing visibility to issues of the Native & Indigenous community & advocates for ways in which social workers can get involved in the work that is being done.

    Bridie urges social workers to take the time to acknowledge the land you occupy, and learn about the Indigenous communities who were there before you & are still here.
    Additionally, she urges social workers to research & join the discussions surrounding Boarding Schools & Murdered Native & Indigenous women.

    Please Watch:

     

    Indigenous in Plain Sight

     

    What does Two-Spirit Mean?

     

    Three Sisters Companion Planting

    Suzanne L Cross, LMSW-Clinical & Macro, Associate

     

    (Emeritus Associate Professor)

     

    Dr. Cross is a citizen of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. She has taught practice, policy, and gerontology social work courses and has earned tenure at Michigan State University and Central Michigan University. In addition, she taught at the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College and Arizona State University. Her research includes; U.S. Indian Boarding School Trauma, American Indian Grand Families, Child Welfare, and Cultural Response to Physical Pain. Her publications focused on aforementioned topics. Dr. Cross has served as a member of the International Editorial Board for Australian Social Work Journal. In addition, she has presented at professional international, national, regional and statewide conferences.

     

    Dr. Cross served on the CSWE Board of Directors (2006-2008), received a CSWE Sr. Scholar Award (2007-2008) to research The Status of American Indians in Social Work Higher Education, and Chaired the CSWE Native American Task Force for three years. She served for many years on NASW’s Health and Aging Committee as well as the NASW Native American Task Force. In 2012, Dr. Cross received the Mit Joyner Gerontology Award from the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors for her work with American Indian Elders. She has chaired and co-chaired the Michigan Indian Day Event for the past twenty-three years for MSU.

     

    Dr. Cross retired in 2013, however continues to work as a consultant for child welfare research grants. Most recently, she served as a Researcher for the National Native American Indian Boarding School Healing Coalition-Research Project. Dr. Cross continues to dedicated her efforts for the collaboration between Academe and Tribal Nations for the benefit of both entities.

    Currently, she presents sessions focused on American Indian issues and Native art. Her art work has been shown in ten States, one piece exhibited in Canada, and received an invitation for two pieces to be included in an exhibition in Venus, Italy. In addition, a segment of her shawl collection with be introduced at the Society of Social Work Research Conference in Phoenix, AZ in January 2013.

     

    Her art provides opportunities to present educational sessions to increase cultural knowledge, and allows her to moderate discussions of challenging topics i.e.; cultural differences, health issues, and healing.

    Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways

    Pictured above is a group of social workers visiting the center in 2017 for NASW-Michigan museum series.

    The Ziibiwing center is located in Mt. Pleasant, MI at 6650 E. Broadway Mt. Pleasant, MI48858.

     

    As an educational center, the Ziibiwing center "promotes the society's belief that the culture, diversity, and spirit of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and other Great Lakes Anishinabek must be recognized, perpetrated, communicated and supported".

    Organizations Providing Services to Native American & Indigenous Communities

    American Indian Health & Family Services

    National Congress of American Indians

     

    "Our mission is to empower and enhance the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental wellbeing of American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, families and other underserved populations in SE MI through culturally grounded health and family services."

    "NCAI was established in 1944 in response to the termination and assimilation policies the US government forced upon tribal governments in contradiction to their treaty rights and status as sovereign nations. To this day, protecting these inherent and legal right remains the primary focus of NCAI."

    Upcoming Michigan Events



    « Back to Index
    Association Management Software Powered by YourMembership  ::  Legal