Michael Hart

University of Manitoba

Michael Anthony Hart (Kaskitémahikan), a citizen of Fisher River Cree Nation, has made a committment to learn and follow Aboriginal ways of helping. He also manages Anishinaabe Mino-Ayaawin’s Mino-Ayaawin Ccounselling Services and is studying for his PhD in Social Work at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

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  • Seeking Mino-Pimatisiwin

    An Aboriginal Approach to Helping

    By Michael Hart     January 2002

    Historically, social work and psychology professions have pressured and coerced Aboriginal peoples to follow the euro-centric ways of society. The needs of Aboriginal peoples have not been successfully addressed by helping professioan due to a limited attempt to incorporate Aboriginal perspectives and practices of helping. Michael Hart briefly discusses colonization from an Aboriginal perspective, ontological imperialism, social work’s role in colonial oppression, and the dynamic of resistance. Seeking Mino-Pimatisiwin encourages Aboriginal concepts, values and perspectives to be effectively incorporated by helpers trained in counselling, supporting, and teaching disciplines.