Resiliency: learning from Indigenous women in social work

This exploratory study was undertaken to gain a greater understanding of the experiences of resiliency among Indigenous women practicing social work in child welfare. Aspects of Linda Tuhiwai Smith's (1999) and Margaret Kovach's (2009) Indigenous research approaches were used to guide this research, and the method of analysis used was thematic analysis. The experiences shared by the Indigenous women who participated in this study revealed that personal attributes and work environment can hinder or promote resiliency. These women found that having a strong sense of identity and being grounded in culture and spirituality, along with striving to create work-life balance and practicing self-care were important to maintaining a healthy well-being. Other factors identified as promoting resiliency included: flexibility in the workplace, and being able to practice social work in a way that is reflective of Indigenous worldviews. Having access to resources and supports, such as clinical supervision, and creating space where genuine relationships can be built with colleagues and clients were also identified as significant. Recommendations to better support social workers were derived from the interviews, and further directions for research were also discussed. --Leaf ii.