The text and accompanying video tape describe the "talking circle" ritual as it is being used spiritually by a Native American group in Southern Arizona. The text analyzes the evolution of the ritual and applies widely accepted models of group therapy to its uses in the following capacities: Spiritually, (and in) Substance Abuse, Education and the Psychological Treatment of Troubled Teen-agers. The video tape features interviews with local practitioners and is narrated by a traditional Chippewa Indian.

Three major theories on juvenile delinquency were examined with respect to their applicability to Navajo juvenile crime. The theories selected were social disorganization-social control theory, status frustration-structural strain theory, and normative conflict-differential association theory. An overview of Navajo social organization was given with a focus on traditional methods of deviance control in Navajo society. Additionally, surveys were administered to 111 students at all levels of Chinle High School on the Navajo reservation. Cross-tabulations were used to determine gender differences with respect to the commission of delinquent acts, as well as possible correlations between alcohol abuse in the students' home and liquor offenses committed by students. Religious affiliation, religiosity, as well as selected aspects of acculturation were examined in their relation to Navajo juvenile delinquency.

This thesis examines the impacts of indigenous dispossession from lands and resources by utilizing a concept in ecology, that of ecological keystone species, and extending it to species that play a key, characterizing role in a particular culture or society. A storytelling methodology is used to determine the presence of cultural keystones in stories and place names of Tla'amin peoples, a Northern Coast Salish group whose traditional territory is located along the coast 130 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, British Columbia. I extend the storytelling methodology to encompass film and video projects that exhibit characteristics of Fourth World Cinema and discuss how such films can be used to empower indigenous communities and reclaim cultural and political rights.

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Typescript, etc. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

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The 4-H Yukon River Fisheries Education and Youth Development Program is a federally funded youth-at-risk program created to help youth escape from the social ills of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, low academic achievement, and suicide that plague rural Alaskan villages. By providing youth the opportunity to learn the skills needed to protect and improve the salmon fishery of the Yukon River drainage and offering them hope for their future, the program is developing the human resources needed to manage the natural resources of the region. The program also provides youth with the education to make choices for their careers and lifestyle. Given the strong cultural influence of the Athabascan people in the area, the program also strives to balance cultural traditions with the technology for development. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the process used in planning, implementing and evaluating a nonformal education program in a rural Athabascan village in terms of its effectiveness and cultural appropriateness. The study focused on the program in the village of Kaltag, Alaska. Using ethnographic methods guided by Coombs and Ahmed's (1974) "Guidelines for Preparing Case Studies of Nonformal Education in Rural Areas" and Nelson's (1982) "Descriptive Profile of Culturally Appropriate Instructional Resources", the study sought to provide a rich description of the program so that other villages of the region and state can determine whether or not a similar program would benefit the youth in their community. Respondents in this study indicated the program was both effective and culturally appropriate. Three themes related to cultural appropriateness emerged during this study: 1) community support, 2) relevance to community needs, and 3) program integration with the school. These themes are interrelated and interdependent and are related to the program's effectiveness and cultural appropriateness. In addition, the program's transferability to other communities may be determined by these three themes. Recommendations for further study include a comparative study to determine if these same themes or others have the same importance in villages implementing the program elsewhere. / Graduation date: 1993

There is a lack of research in the mental health field and on help-seeking regarding the Asian Indian population. Asian Indians are the third largest Asian subgroup in the United States; thus, it is important to understand their culture and lifestyle. Collectively, they are more likely to consult family and close friends rather than seek help from mental health professionals. Asian Indians may not choose to discuss these problems because they feel it is unnecessary, or it could bring shame to the family. The purpose of this study was to look at the effects of acculturation on the help-seeking attitudes of Asian Indian parents and caregivers when considering seeking help for their children. Inclusion criteria included parents and caregivers of children ages 7-17, who are 18 years of age or older, of Asian Indian ancestry, have resided in the U.S. for at least one year, and who have been the primary caregiver for at least 6 months. Measures used examined culture, acculturation, help-seeking attitudes, and some basic demographic information. The survey was available online as well as on paper to be returned to the researcher. A total of 89 participants, the majority of whom were mothers and well-educated, completed the survey. Participants were recruited at community events, at a temple in Houston, and through family members and friends by emailing the online link. Analyses of the data indicated that acculturation does not impact openness to seek mental health services, level of mental health stigma, and intentions to seek mental health services. It was also shown that openness and stigma do not mediate the relationship between acculturation and the intention to seek mental health services. Finally, the top sources of help indicated by the Asian Indians in this study are intimate partners, mental health professionals, and doctors or general practitioners. There were participants who had taken their children to see a professional before, but opinions varied regarding its helpfulness. It is hoped that this study will provide valuable information to inform mental health professionals about an understudied population and to continue to emphasize the importance of understanding diversity and what that means for school psychology and the mental health field.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2001. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 385-397). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.