Roe Bubar

Cultural Competence, Justice, and Supervision: Sexual Assault Against Native Women

Native women in the United States have the highest incidence of sexual assault, and Alaska Native women may have the highest incidence of sexual assault of any women in the United States. Few mental health or legal supports or remedies exist for them, in spite of their grave need. Few therapists are trained to work with Native American women. This article outlines the plight of Native women with regard to sexual assault and abuse and provides an overview of the sensitivity and knowledge that social workers and other mental health workers should have when working with Native American women.

Unpacking Race, Culture, and Class in Rural Alaska: Native and Non-Native Multidisciplinary Professionals' Perceptions of Child Sexual Abuse

The purpose of this study was to unpack notions of class, culture, and race as they relate to multidisciplinary team (MDT) professionals and their perceptions of prevalence in child sexual abuse cases in Native and non-Native rural Alaska communities. Power and privilege within professional settings is significant for all social work professionals and influences the ways in which systemic issues of power and privilege mediate decision making. Fifteen MDT participants from two separate rural communities were interviewed. Emergent themes include perceptions on incidences and reporting of child sexual abuse, cultural dissonance, and systemic challenges. Policy and practice implications are discussed.

Intersectionality and Social Work: Omissions of Race, Class, and Sexuality in Graduate School Education.

ABSTRACT In 2008 EPAS Standards on Engaging Diversity and Difference in Practice (2.1.4) added intersectionality (a theory developed by feminist of color) as one aspect to understand diversity, difference, and power in social work curriculum. We consider how intersectionality is omitted in graduate student learning even when class assignments center discussions and theorizations on power. This qualitative study explores student narratives and corresponding metaphorical drawings on power within an assignment charting their role as social workers. The research emerges from data where authors noted omissions of race, class, and sexuality in discussions on professional power. This inquiry is guided by critical feminisms. Constant comparative methods were used in this study and two themes emerged: policing resources and a pretense of harmlessness.

Communication About Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Rural and Urban Native American Youth

This study explored an underserved population, Native American youth, regarding health communication about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. Determining communication patterns of these youth, who markedly differ from the general population on access to health facilities and information, will inform public policy about lessening Native youth STI and HIV/AIDs morbidity, potentially leading to a reduction in health and human costs associated with these illnesses. Using information channel complementarity theory, this study examined sexual health information use by rural and urban Native American youth. Semistructured interviews in a community-participatory based research approach (CPBR) facilitated understanding these youth in their cultural contexts. Findings showed they preferred pamphlets as their sexual health information source. They trusted interpersonal more than mediated sources, yet noted a lack of confidentiality from health officials. Although knowledgeable about types of STIs and HIV/AIDS, participants did not demonstrate knowledge about symptoms and treatments and exhibited a false awareness of self-knowledge. They showed a strong sense of community, interested in helping younger people in health prevention. They engaged in sexual behaviors, frequently along with alcohol and drugs. Rural females associated alcohol with sex and violence more than rural males, although this was not found among urban females or males.

When the Decolonial Goes Precolonial: Voices of Ancestors, Revolutions, and Being

This article begins by identifying common frameworks of decolonial and postcolonial approaches while considering the current scholarships limitations of engagement with those approaches. We believe there is a need to interrupt (neo)colonizing approaches to decoloniality, that is, the limitations of the masters tools. Rather, we offer a mediation that critiques the centering of the colonial. In doing so, we weave into this analysis a series of narratives that beckon us back prior to the decolonial/postcolonial turn and beyond postcolonial and decolonial feminist thought—allowing for a precolonial knowing and telling to emerge. Through these tellings, we define and acknowledge spaces of meaning and traditions.

Rap about Clap: A Qualitative Study of American Indian Youth and STDs/STIs

This qualitative study explores American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth’s knowledge and access to health information about sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections (STDs/STIs). Focus groups and community-based participatory research practices contributed to engaging with youth ages fourteen to twenty-one from two Western tribal communities as well as tribal professionals. Results indicate that tribal youth differed by gender on knowledge-holding, misinformation about STDs/STIs, and access to health professionals. Youth demonstrated knowledge about different STDs/STIs, yet were often misinformed on specific symptoms and treatment. Lack of sexual health access for young men and lack of confidentiality in local health clinics were concerns. Interpersonal communication in dyads and small groups is an important medium in tribal communities and, in reservation-based communities, perhaps more so. The ability of AI/AN youth to discuss sexual health openly, honestly, and authentically holds great promise for designing effective youth messages that target sexually transmitted disease prevention efforts.