A community development project involving the tribal leaders, civic organisations and the aged action group had been completed in 1994 in Rathoke, a rural area in the Mpumalanga Pre ince. In the process, the reseacher observed tension built as a result of the refusal of people in authority like tribal officers, civic organisation members and individual professionals to acknowledge that aged people can take a lead in articulating their needs and alternative solutions. Assumptions prevailing among them are that: 1. Old and rural people need help. 2. Have no potential for leadership development. 3. Are dependent on existing leadership structures and 4. Their needs are not a priority. On the bases of these assumptions, the reseacher undertook to do a case study based on the analysis of community development process reports kept for the project.There have been a number of learnings which can be of benefit to people interested in the leadership concept in the field of community development. / Social work / M.A. (SS) (Mental Health)

This study explores the interactive process between decentralized structures and traditional authorities in Wenchi district, with a view to generating lessons and insights that can guide the recommendation of a more appropriate decentralization framework to tap the strengths of traditional authorities towards accelerated rural development. Within the framework of action research methodology, mixed-methods were used to triangulate findings and enhance research rigour. Specific methods employed were focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interviews (IDIs), and observation, complemented by context analyses of relevant documents. It was found that the interactive processes between traditional authorities and decentralized structures are characterized mainly by competition for power and legitimacy, leading to mistrust and an inability to take advantage of the synergy effect between the two systems of local governance in accomplishing accelerated rural development. Key recommendations are that traditional authorities should not be fused with the decentralized structures, but should remain as countervailing institutions to check the misuse of power by the decentralized structures. However, traditional authorities should be given the ceremonial role of the right to address meetings of the District Assembly and the Area Councils. Additionally, chiefs should be given the chance to nominate at least two people onto the Unit Committees. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

Several studies have indicated that American Indian students in the United States higher education system confront unique challenges that derive from a legacy of colonialism and assimilationist policies (Huff 1997). Several scholars, American Indian and non-Native alike, have explored the effects of this history upon students in higher education (Brayboy 2004; Guillory and Wolverton 2008; Waterman and Lindley 2013). Very few, however, have explored the role of the educators of American Indian students, and most of the literature focuses on K-12 educational settings (McCarty and Lee 2014; Yong and Hoffman 2014). This thesis examines exploratory user research conducted to generate a foundational understanding of educators of American Indian students in higher education. Utilizing methods from design anthropology and user experience, semi-structured interviews and think-aloud sessions were conducted, almost exclusively virtually, for 17 participants. This research was conducted for a client, Fire & Associates, as part of the applied thesis process. Findings revealed a complex web of needs for educators of American Indian students in higher education related to teaching diverse students, the use of media and technology in the classroom, and the process of networking among other educators. The research culminated in content and design implications for the Fire & Associates website as well as suggestions for further research based on best practices in the field of user experience.

The purpose of this study is to explore the different marketing techniques accessible to fashion independent retailers and aiming to strengthen their customer relationship and attract/create a community. It also focuses on understanding the applicability and operationalization of customer relationship management marketing techniques in a specific context, here, a fashion independent retailer. / Program: Master programme in Fashion Management

Native American women and children suffer from domestic violence at an alarming rate on and off Indian reservations in the United States. Often these families that are impacted by domestic violence are involved in the state/county child welfare system. This study was to gain knowledge about Native American tribal child social workers experiences and challenges with co-occurrences of domestic violence and child maltreatment cases. This study used an exploratory, qualitative design with a phenomenological approach by collecting data through face-to-face and over the phone interviews with four Native American tribal child social workers from four different tribes across the nation. This design allowed participants the opportunity to provide a more in-depth explanation from their own personal experiences regarding their experiences and challenges working with domestic violence and child maltreatment cases. The study found that there is a need for state/county social workers to have a better understanding of the historic and current experiences of Native people from a cultural, spiritual, and socioeconomic perspective through effective and consistent training on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The study also found, that there is a need for state/county administration and social workers to build relationships with tribal child social workers in order to provide culturally competent and effective policies and services to serve Native American communities.

This mini–dissertation addresses the management of the potable water supply in the Mkhwanazi Tribal Authority's area of jurisdiction. The main objectives of the study were to determine the organisational structures and public policies governing the potable water supply in the uMhlathuze Local Municipality with a view to establishing the factors that hinder the provision of potable water to some parts of the Mkhwanazi Tribal Area and also determine how the present potable water situation is perceived by the MTA residents. The Mkhwanazi Tribal Authority's area of jurisdiction is predominantly a residential area for the Zulu speaking people under the uMhlathuze Local Municipality's area of responsibility in the Province of KwaZulu–Natal. The organisational structures governing the potable water supply in the MTA identified in the study are the ULM comprising of the Municipal Council and the administrative; Integrated Development Plan; Water Services Provider; Water Committee; and the Mkhwanazi Tribal Council. The provision of potable water in the MTA is regulated through the UMhlathuze Water Services By–Laws which are based on the standards of basic water and sanitation in terms of the White Paper on Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) (SA, 1994:17). The study established that the challenges affecting the potable water supply are the lack of funds in the Municipality, rising water demand, human capacity and water loss. The MTA residents appreciate the current potable water supply by the ULM but have a negative attitude towards paying for water services because they consider water as a natural resource that must be freely supplied to them by the Government. Therefore, the study recommended that water awareness campaigns be conducted regularly amongst the MTA community to raise the importance of having potable water in the community. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

This mini–dissertation addresses the management of the potable water supply in the Mkhwanazi Tribal Authority's area of jurisdiction. The main objectives of the study were to determine the organisational structures and public policies governing the potable water supply in the uMhlathuze Local Municipality with a view to establishing the factors that hinder the provision of potable water to some parts of the Mkhwanazi Tribal Area and also determine how the present potable water situation is perceived by the MTA residents. The Mkhwanazi Tribal Authority's area of jurisdiction is predominantly a residential area for the Zulu speaking people under the uMhlathuze Local Municipality's area of responsibility in the Province of KwaZulu–Natal. The organisational structures governing the potable water supply in the MTA identified in the study are the ULM comprising of the Municipal Council and the administrative; Integrated Development Plan; Water Services Provider; Water Committee; and the Mkhwanazi Tribal Council. The provision of potable water in the MTA is regulated through the UMhlathuze Water Services By–Laws which are based on the standards of basic water and sanitation in terms of the White Paper on Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) (SA, 1994:17). The study established that the challenges affecting the potable water supply are the lack of funds in the Municipality, rising water demand, human capacity and water loss. The MTA residents appreciate the current potable water supply by the ULM but have a negative attitude towards paying for water services because they consider water as a natural resource that must be freely supplied to them by the Government. Therefore, the study recommended that water awareness campaigns be conducted regularly amongst the MTA community to raise the importance of having potable water in the community. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

There are significant mental health disparities in Aboriginal communities in Canada as a result of historical assimilation policies (Health Canada, 2012). One approach to mitigating these mental health concerns is through prevention programs that include a wilderness component. Wilderness based programs for Aboriginal youth are informed by cultural wisdom and empirical research that connects immersion in nature with psychological well-being. The goal of this study was to collaborate with two community partners (Nala Winds canoe family from the Heiltsuk First Nation, and Victoria Native Friendship Centre) to develop an evaluation tool that will satisfy mainstream funding standards as well as community, cultural standards. This tool-kit was designed to reflect the youth experience and mental health consequences of Tribal Journeys, an annual canoe journey program for Coastal First Nations peoples. The findings were shared with community partners and may be helpful in facilitating the creation, maintenance, and evaluation of other Aboriginal youth programs. / Graduate / 0620 / 0347 / 0621 / tansmethurst@gmail.com

多元文化是目前社會的主流價值，事實上，每個文化都有其優勢，在不同時代都可以有貢獻。但族群文化常在傳播過程中出現矛盾與爭議，本研究試圖從文化傳播的觀點，找出製作族群電視台節目時，應掌握的原則和精神，並以原住民電視台為例，探討不同文化間如何有效的溝通。 本論文主要是以漢文化和原民文化為主，並透過社會學、人類學和文化傳播等文獻探討進行理論上的對話；同時，也探討原民文化重要的核心價值與內涵，期盼在文化傳播時能達到最佳效果。本研究採社會科學中的質性研究法，以深度訪談與焦點團體進行資料蒐集、分析與討論。 研究發現，在文化傳播歷程中族群電視台會遭遇下列幾種困難：閱聽人期待不同、文化節目製作團隊素質要高、族語和文字保留不易、文化衝突降低傳播效果、族群捍衛文化產生防衛心；但透過幽默、靠近、善用刻板印象、建立顧問團隊和政府刻意的協助，能突破困難，讓不同文化有良性溝通；除此之外，本研究也發現，族群文化反而可以為主流文化的瓶頸找一條出路，例如原住民文化中對大自然的尊重、部落意識、樂舞教導、和自然幽默的性格，與目前的全球思維等議題有密切關聯。 最後本研究提出三點建議：建議政府籌備第二台原住民電視台、主動培訓原住民傳播人才、學術界的文化學者應積極投入族群文化節目之製作團隊。筆者相信，如此必能提升文化傳播的效益，也能使多元文化的普世價值得到彰顯。 / Multi-culture is the mainstream in nowadays. Actually, each culture has its own advantages. There are conflicts and disputes of tribal culture in the communication process. This research aims the principles and the spirits of producing tribal television programs in the point of interculture communication. Taiwan Indigenous Television is taken as the example to discuss how to communicate effectively among different cultures. This research focuses on the Han culture and aboriginal culture and studies the theory through the documents of sociology, anthropology and interculture communication. At the same time, it also studies the core values and intensions of aboriginal culture. This research, gathering, analyzing, and discussing the data by deeply-interview and focus groups interview, takes the qualitative methods of sociology. The research finds out that tribal television stations may encounter the following problems: the different expect from audience, the quality of tribal television program producing team, the keep of the provin- cial speech and words, the ineffective communication results due to conflicts between different cultures, and the defend of indigenous people for their own culture. However, the problems would be solved by the help of humor, touching, breaking stereotypes, building consulting team, and the assistance from the government. The study also finds that tribal cultures may provide the solution for mainstream culture which is under the limits by itself. The advantages of aboriginal culture are the respect of the environment, tribal recognition, the teaching of music and dance, and the humor. They all are closely related to the global issues. There are three suggestions in the research. First, the government should plan to establish the second indigenous television station. Second, We should actively train indigenous media experts. Third, the scholars in the culture academic circle should eagerly involve producing tribal television programs. It is convinced that by doing so, the culture communication would be more effective, and the society would emphasize on multi-culture value much more.

This study explores the interactive process between decentralized structures and traditional authorities in Wenchi district, with a view to generating lessons and insights that can guide the recommendation of a more appropriate decentralization framework to tap the strengths of traditional authorities towards accelerated rural development. Within the framework of action research methodology, mixed-methods were used to triangulate findings and enhance research rigour. Specific methods employed were focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interviews (IDIs), and observation, complemented by context analyses of relevant documents. It was found that the interactive processes between traditional authorities and decentralized structures are characterized mainly by competition for power and legitimacy, leading to mistrust and an inability to take advantage of the synergy effect between the two systems of local governance in accomplishing accelerated rural development. Key recommendations are that traditional authorities should not be fused with the decentralized structures, but should remain as countervailing institutions to check the misuse of power by the decentralized structures. However, traditional authorities should be given the ceremonial role of the right to address meetings of the District Assembly and the Area Councils. Additionally, chiefs should be given the chance to nominate at least two people onto the Unit Committees. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)