Indigenous wisdom empowers me as an Indigenous social worker to advocate for decolonization within my field. In this role, I confront the reality that social work, as it stands today, is not inherently designed to end marginalization or exploitation.

A clear example of colonization in social work is when non-Indigenous children are separated from their families, culture, and language by being placed with white foster parents, even when stable biological relatives, like an aunt or uncle, are available.

For six years, I have worked with foster children, survivors of human trafficking, emergency responders, and homeless families. Yet, I have often felt I was applying temporary fixes to deeper systemic issues, as bureaucratic barriers and rigid policies overshadowed opportunities for genuine, long-term solutions.

Colonization persists when social workers maintain a “business as usual” mentality, refusing to change harmful policies that prevent individuals and families from breaking free from oppressive systems. Early in my career, as an Indigenous social worker advocating for systemic change and the implementation of transformative policies, I was often told that “our role is to work with individuals, not change the system,” and that “policy change is the responsibility of politicians.” I was surprised by social workers’ silence in the face of harmful systems, relying instead on politicians for solutions despite our expertise and ability to make meaningful connections that could drive systemic change and reduce harm.

Decolonizing social work is an intentional practice aimed at lessening the negative impacts of social services on already marginalized communities, like Indigenous peoples. I realized that my mission needed to be about both decolonizing the profession and changing these systems. Communities deserve services that not only provide temporary relief but also address the oppressive structures in which they live. Through macro-level social work, I’ve found myself advocating for Indigenous language access and the distinctiveness of Indigenous language expression, particularly in agencies like the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Lack of language access leads to Indigenous erasure and further marginalization. I’ve also trained social service case managers and supervisors to understand that Indigenous clients should not be dismissed simply because their communication style differs. For instance, “U.S” mental health services often take a direct approach to gathering demographic information, but Indigenous peoples often prefer to build rapport before sharing personal details. In the past, Indigenous clients have been labeled as “non-compliant” for not responding quickly or remaining silent. Decolonizing social work requires understanding that Indigenous peoples use language to build rapport, often through storytelling, and should not be dismissed as uncooperative.

I aspire to go beyond the status quo, which often dismisses Indigenous peoples, and guide us toward a more empathetic, holistic society with decolonized policies and systems. This involves gently challenging fellow social workers; engaging in introspection at the individual, team, and organizational levels; and critically examining the harmful systems we perpetuate. I encourage every social worker or mental health professional reading this to reflect on the harm caused by complacency, embrace accountability, and join in collective efforts to decolonize social work. This is itself a form of harm reduction and prevention.

Decolonization is not only relevant to my professional life but also to my identity. I’ve had to work on decolonizing my Indigenous heritage, particularly in how it has been portrayed through patriarchal lenses. For example, Indigenous women have been expected to remain silent, endure suffering, and avoid leadership roles. Decolonized Maya leadership demands that I use my voice to speak out when harm is done to me or others, just as my matriarchal ancestors did. However, I’ve also learned that not all Indigenous social workers support decolonization. Some Indigenous leaders have reprimanded me for advocating on a policy level, but I won’t let that deter me.

The importance of decolonization in social work extends beyond addressing harm experienced by marginalized communities. It fosters the well-being of all communities through transformative policy changes. Decolonizing social work isn’t just about serving Indigenous peoples—it’s about creating systemic changes that humanize all individuals. By decolonizing social work, we prioritize collective life, ensuring that we all thrive. Social workers have a collective responsibility to decolonize our perspectives, practices, and systems for the betterment of everyone.