Journal of Indigenous Research - Full Circle: Returning Native Research to the People Volume 9
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Journal of Indigenous Research
Full Circle: Returning Native Research to the People
Volume 9 Issue 2021 Article 8
2-25-2021
Protecting and Defending our People: Nakni tushka anowa (The
Warrior's Path) Final Report. APA Division 45 Warrior’s Path
Presidential Task Force (2020)
Michelle Aiello
maiello1@student.gsu.edu
Danna Bismar
DannaBismar@my.unt.edu
Saskias Casanova
scasanov@ucsc.edu
Jesus Manuel Casas
casas@education.ucsb.edu
Doris
FollowChang
this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/kicjir
dorisfchang@gmail.com
Recommended Citation
See next page for additional authors
Aiello, Michelle; Bismar, Danna; Casanova, Saskias; Casas, Jesus Manuel; Chang, Doris; Chin, Jean L.;
Comas-Diaz, Lillian; Salvo Crane, Leilani; Demir, Zeynep; Garcia, Melinda A.; Hita, Liza; Leverett, Patrice;
Mendez, Kristina; Morse, Gayle Skawen:nio; shodiya-zeumault, shola; O’Leary Sloan, Maeve; Weil, Marie C.;
and Blume, Art W. (2021) "Protecting and Defending our People: Nakni tushka anowa (The Warrior's Path)
Final Report. APA Division 45 Warrior’s Path Presidential Task Force (2020)," Journal of Indigenous
Research: Vol. 9 : Iss. 2021 , Article 8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26077/2en0-6610
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/kicjir/vol9/iss2021/8
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Protecting and Defending our People: Nakni tushka anowa (The Warrior's Path)
Final Report. APA Division 45 Warrior’s Path Presidential Task Force (2020)
Cover Page Footnote
https://www.nativepsychs.org/the-warriors-path
Authors
Michelle Aiello, Danna Bismar, Saskias Casanova, Jesus Manuel Casas, Doris Chang, Jean L. Chin, Lillian
Comas-Diaz, Leilani Salvo Crane, Zeynep Demir, Melinda A. Garcia, Liza Hita, Patrice Leverett, Kristina
Mendez, Gayle Skawen:nio Morse, shola shodiya-zeumault, Maeve O’Leary Sloan, Marie C. Weil, and Art
W. Blume
This white paper is available in Journal of Indigenous Research: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/kicjir/vol9/iss2021/
8
Aiello et al.: Protecting and Defending our People: Nakni tushka anowa (The Warrior's Path) Final Report
Paper of Color Report
Warrior’s Path Task Force I December 2020
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Dedication …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Preface ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
Title and Task Force ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Colonialism and COVID-19 …………………………………………………………………………………... 8
Comments From the Division Council of Past Presidents (our Elders) …………………………………. 9
Barriers to Psychological Wellness …………………………………………………………………………. 10
An Indigenous Perspective …………………………………………………………………………………... 10
Nakni tushka Anowa (The Warrior’s Path) Initiative …………………………………………………………. 12
The Warrior’s Path: Rationale ………………………………………………………………………………... 13
The Psychologist as Warrior …………………………………………………………………………………. 13
The Charge for the Task Force ………………………………………………………………………………. 13
Moving Towards a Decolonized Psychology: A Call to Action ……………………………………………. 14
Review of Barriers to Equity Diversity and Inclusiveness in APA and Division 45 ……………………… 15
Perpetuation of Colonialism in Psychology f rom Education to Licensing ………………………………... 16
Review of Listserv Discussions of Colonial Practices and Barriers within APA and Divison 45 ………. 18
Representation …………………………………………………………………………………………… 19
Barriers ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 19
Knowledge ………………………………………………………………………………………………... 19
Barriers that Burden our People ……………………………………………………………………………… 20
Theme I: Systemic/Structural Barriers and Subthemes ……………………………………………... 20
Theme 2: Inclusive Spaces and Strategic Efforts and Subthemes ………………………………… 23
Theme 3: Visions for Truth and Reconciliation and Subthemes …………………………………… 24
Exacting a Call ………….…………………………………………………………………………………………. 27
References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 33
Appendix A: How COVID-19 Might Harm Equity in Education and Higher Education ………………… 38
Appendix B: Review of Barriers to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusiveness in APA and Division 45 ….. 39
Appendix C: Accreditation Matters ……………………………………………………………………………… 42
Glossary of Terms ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 44
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We lovingly dedicate this to the memory of our beloved sister, Dr. Jean Lau Chin. The first Chinese-
American woman to earn a doctorate in psychology, she turned a position that could have been lonely
into being the front point of the arrow in the areas of advocacy, policy, leadership, teaching,
mentoring, commitment to diversity and service. She brought out the inner gifts in those who she
mentored; she was able to see those gifts even before the other person did and encouraged them to
develop them even when they did not believe in their own gifts.
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Our oldest ancestors, Grandmother Moon, Father Sun, and the Thunderbeings remind us to
remember all of our ancestors who came before us. To remember all of our relatives, the Medicine
people, The Wisdom Keepers, our helpers, supporters, as well as our winged, finned, and four legged
brothers and sisters.
We acknowledge and honor our ancestors and elders who led us to this moment and created
the paths we walked, all the while supporting our journeys when we went our own way. We
acknowledge and honor our ancestors who dedicated their lives to helping others with their medicine,
their teaching, their research, and their dedicated, sometimes lonely, work. We acknowledge and
honor our ancestors who have passed on gently in sleep, or lost their lives while making meaningful
change in the face of adversity.
We offer our work in the spirit of those who have gone before us, those who have paved the
way for us and shared their wisdom to guide us. We acknowledge and honor our ancestors who
created the space for all of us to grow into our best selves and to carry on their work in some small
way. We thank our ancestors with great respect and love from our hearts, minds, and bodies. May we
be worthy of walking the path.
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“Many have misunderstood the role of warriors in Indigenous cultures, and
have stereotyped those roles as aggressive and savage activities. I would like
to directly challenge those stereotypes today. In reality, warriors from an
Indigenous perspective are defenders of the peace, charged with the care and
protection of the most vulnerable in the community, and with a responsibility to
oppose destructive colonial forces that violate peace (such as racism and
inequity). The warrior is a defender of peace for the people, but that
responsibility also extends to the world.” (Blume)
In October, 2019 Dr. Blume introduced his into the work group. As word of the important and
presidential initiative when he sent out a call to inclusive work was circulated more people
psychologists to work on the Warrior’s Path Task volunteered to assist. Students were welcomed as
Force (WPTF). Dr. Blume’s charge outlined: colleagues in this process such that their ideas and
“What courses of action would enable feedback were important to the structure and
format as the document was transformed. Our goal
members of Division 45 to serve more
was to produce a document that was decolonized
effectively and efficiently as psychological
as much as possible with in the structure we have
warriors in defense of our people inside and
grown accustomed to.
outside of psychology.”
We attempted to ensure the pluralistic
It is notable that the WPTF was assembled
equality of participants and those we seek to
differently than previous APA or Division 45 task
support, protect, and assist by discussing all
force groups, which have generally been hand
disparate views until we could reach a general
selected by the convener. The WPTF was created
consensus of how to formulate our process and
after Dr. Blume sent an open call to Division 45
product. To that end all participants were included
members. Both nominated members and those
in the alphabetically ordered author list regardless
interested in participating responded to the Task
of the amount of their contribution because each
Force call. The call was responded to by both
people interested in participating and others were contribution was considered and helped shaped
our work. All contributions were woven together to
nominated for their expertise, by their peers. This
make a complete and cohesive document that was
method of inclusion was a reflection of Dr. Blume’s
a necessary reflective of a collective input.
deep connection to his Cherokee and Choctaw
background and to the cultural influences therein.
Throughout the process interested people
were welcomed to the task force and integrated
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Warrior’s Path Task Force (in surname alphabetical order):
Michelle Aiello
Danna Bismar
Saskias Casanova
Jesus Manuel Casas
Doris Chang
Jean L. Chin (Co-Chair)
Lillian Comas-Díaz
Leilani Salvo Crane
Zeynep Demir
Melinda A. García (Secretary)
Liza Hita
Patrice Leverett
Kristina Mendez
Gayle Skawen:nio Morse (Co-Chair)
shola shodiya-zeumault
Maeve O’Leary Sloan
Marie C. Weil (Co-Chair)
Art W. Blume (President, Division 45, Ex-Officio)
Members of The Warrior’s Path Presidential Task Force contributed images for this report.
Citation:
APA Division 45 Warrior’s Path Presidential Task Force (2020). Protecting and defending our people:
Nakni tushka anowa (The warrior's path) [Final Report]. American Psychological Association
Division 45 Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race.
Copyright © 2021 Gayle S. Morse
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(Blume, 2020). Although some people in popular
We acknowledge the First Peoples media have talked about a post-colonial world, it is
of our countries, as the custodians clear that there is nothing “post” colonial about our
social order in the United States (US) and in the
and occupants of the traditional American Psychological Association (APA).
lands where we live, work, and
In the US, mainstream psychology has at
recreate. We pay our respects to its foundation a White Eurocentric perspective. In
the Elders past, present, the seven Even the Rat was White Guthrie (2003)
generations yet to come, and to documented a historical view of psychology’s
White centrality. The majority of US psychological
their continued connection to the knowledge is based on research with WEIRD
land and community. (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, Democratic)
individuals and contexts (Gurven, 2018; Henrich,
Heine, & Norenzayan, 2010). Although research
suggests that BIPOC scientists tend to produce
It is impossible to ignore the daily more innovative scholarship, these innovations
challenges that Black, Indigenous, and People of have been systematically discounted by the field of
Color (BIPOC) face in the context of current psychology, academic institutions and the
circumstances. The daily realities of the forces publication process in ways that diminish
inherent in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic representation and impact in the field (Hofstra,
have brought the prevailing injustices and racism Kulkarni, Munoz-Najar Galvez, He, Jurafsky, &
that exist in American society into sharp relief. McFarland, 2020). BIPOC perspectives in theory,
These injustices are inherent in our social order, research and applied contexts have never been
having been present since the founding of this seriously considered to have the disciplinary rigor
country with its roots in colonialism (e.g. The assumed for the mainstream perspective despite
Doctrine of Discovery and Manifest Destiny). the evidence that the WEIRD approach to
Within this historical, cultural, and social context psychology has not served significant population
the field of psychology arose as a discipline and groups, including women, as well. Race and
the American Psychological Association developed ethnicity have been significantly underemphasized
into the largest national psychological association in peer-reviewed publications of psychological
in the world. science (Roberts, Bareket-Shavit, Dollins, Goldie,
& Mortenson, 2020). The demographics of
The evidence of the impact of colonization
psychology faculty (American Psychological
is all around. The same forces that have harmed
Association (APA), 2019a) and of new doctoral
so many BIPOC people over the centuries
graduates in psychology (National Science
continue to affect psychologists of color in the
Foundation, 2018) certainly do not mirror the
present day, our allies and the people we serve diverse population of the US (APA, 2019a & b;
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U.S. Census Bureau, 2019). Similarly, the number of BIPOC students’ graduations (see
membership of the APA does not reflect the Appendix A). For example, low income BIPOC
diverse demographics of the US, and the racial students may find it necessary to halt their
and ethnic demographics of the APA have educational pursuits in order to help their families
changed little since 2007 (APA, 2017a; U.S. cope with illnesses, accidents or other unfortunate
Census Bureau, 2019). circumstances beyond their control, thus
worsening already existing racial and ethnic
disparities in education.
Colonialism and COVID-19 Historically, Division 45’s focus on culture,
The concept of Colonialism refers to the ethnicity and race has stood in contrast with APA
pervasive societal policies that retain authority over priorities , which have not always aligned with the
marginalized racial communities by imposing best interests of the people we represent
dominant cultural and sociopolitical practices. As historically. As a result, members of Division 45
an illustration, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed stand at the intersection of defending and
the blatant consequences of colonialism (i.e., advancing diversity and combating racist practices
health disparities and inequalities in social, while simultaneously engaging as psychologists in
financial, and environmental safety) so accurately a field that has failed to recognize its complicity in
that even mainstream media started covering perpetuating those practices. In this way, Division
these inequalities and their impact. Indeed, the 45 members act as what Haddock-Lazada (2020)
United States General Surgeon reported in 2000 called double agents, that is, as psychologists we
that racial and ethnic health disparities were likely consciously navigate both our roles as agents of
due to racism (U.S. Department of Health and the status quo, as well as agents of social justice
Human Services, 2000). Along these lines, action.
national and local policies that insure
The field of psychology and the APA
intergenerational poverty and health and mental
started during an era where the exclusion of
health disparities have left many BIPOC at risk for
certain peoples as worthy of attention was
serious consequences from COVID-19 (CDC,
common practice. Belief in hierarchies as the
2020a & b; Price-Haywood, Burton, Fort, & natural order of things produced a colonial social
Seoane, 2020). Those who work in essential
order where superiority and inferiority were
services are often BIPOC people who do not have
practiced while “Do No Harm” was espoused. As a
the privilege of being able to work from home or
result, psychology as a profession and the APA as
avoid the risks of daily COVID-19 exposure. The
an organization have not been demographically
COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have a detrimental
representative of the populations they are charged
effect on children who are educationally
to serve both nationally and globally. Despite Blue
challenged as they struggle to engage with remote
Ribbon Task Force reviews for the past 40 years,
and technology-dependent learning. Resource
psychology and the APA have stubbornly
challenged schools and students (overwhelmingly
remained demographically imbalanced in
low income and BIPOC) were already at a
representation from the graduate student level, to
significant disadvantage to adjust to the challenges
the ethnic composition of faculty, to the Council of
of instruction even before under the conditions of
Representatives, to the professional APA staff.
the pandemic (Bylander, 2020). Younger students
This imbalance actively contributes to the
may be falling behind because of long-standing
continued muffling of BIPOC voices long minimized
infrastructure inequalities in their schools and
in the development of theory, research, and
communities.
practice, and in the evolution of the profession of
The field of psychology had and continues psychology and the organization of APA. Only
to have problems with underrepresentation of recently, APA members voted to approve
BIPOC students in graduate education, and the representatives of Ethnic Minority Associations to
circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic the APA Council of Representatives a full voting
introduces additional challenges for our small
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status in APA Council. nimbly to threats to justice and our people might be
the newly drafted APA statement opposing the
As an integral element of colonialism,
separation of children from immigrant families. The
racism has been used to justify the violation of
drafting and vetting took months, but apparently
both humans and their natural resources
(Quiñones- Rosado, 2020). In addition to violations this was considered a streamlined process when
contrasted with previous processes that have
of human rights and acts of oppression toward
taken even longer. In a world now accustomed to a
BIPOC, the natural environment has been
24-hour news cycle and rapid mobilization via
exploited in another act of injustice. In addition to
social media, responding within months of a
promoting anti-racism in human-human
relationships, anti-racism must also include psychological crisis simply is not going to cut it
under real world conditions today.
promoting peace between humans and the natural
environment lest the racial injustices continue.
Psychology must take an active and proactive role
in promoting anti-racism in all relationships, to Comments from the Division Council
ensure that justice is visited upon all the victims of of Past Presidents (our Elders)
racism (Blume, 2020).
In 2019, Division 45 President-elect Art
In not recognizing and acknowledging the Blume polled the Div. 45 Council of Elders on what
pervasiveness and perniciousness of the colonial initiatives they would like to undertake in 2020 and
attitudes in the world in which it developed, APA beyond. The responses were organized around a
continues to have weak responses to calls for persistent theme: protect and care for vulnerable
diversity in both staffing and organizational goals. people. Specific topics mentioned explicitly were
Although governance and organizational climate challenging racism, sexism and other intersectional
have evolved slowly over time, report after report oppressed identities, but the overall theme was
for at least 40 years (internal, from Council care and protection with a consistent desire to
committees and work groups, and from outside promote anti-racism in society.
observers) consistently maintain that APA has not
Care and protection is a multifaceted
diversified itself in ways to match the diversification
concern in Division 45. Since Division 45 stands at
of the larger society. Moreover, most initiatives to
the intersection of culture, ethnicity, race, and APA,
advance multiculturalism in the APA have
one facet is how to diversify APA so that the power
espoused aspirational goals and ignore specific
and influence of the organization may be
methods and evaluation techniques for ensuring
leveraged to help transform society. And since
compliance and implementation, a cornerstone of
Division 45 is also at the intersection of culture,
sound psychological practice (Blume, 2020). Not
ethnicity, race, and the public we serve, another
surprisingly, the non-specific goals of these
facet is how to protect and care for those who are
initiatives remain unfulfilled and efforts have failed
made psychologically vulnerable due to unjust
to produce a demographically representative
social systems and structures in society. Division
association (APA, 2017a; APA Council Diversity
45 is at the best position to help mainstream
Workgroup Report, 2017b).
psychology and APA to engage in decolonization.
APA cannot escape the colonial influences As the COVID -19 pandemic has shown, a great
that challenge the organization in responding many people who are vulnerable in our society
nimbly to alarming health and mental health today are ethnic and racial minorities. Many of us
inequities in the larger social order. This has raised have been personally touched by the pandemic.
frustration in Division 45, where we hoped for more For example, we previously indicated that Dr. Jean
rapid and assertive responses from APA to threats Lau Chin, a co-chair of this Task Force, died of
to social justice and to our people, or where COVID-19 in 2020. Historically, our people have
diversity initiatives have wilted due to APA been made vulnerable through colonial
organizational slowness and even inertia. assumptions, such as hierarchical assumptions
that contribute to and tacitly accept inequity, social
As an example of the failure to respond
injustice, and environmental injustice.
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Barriers to Psychological Wellness social justice in the public interest, yet even they
tend to hesitate and worry about “getting ahead of
Today, there are consequential mismatches our data.” But, historically, psychology has jumped
between mainstream psychology and the real ahead of the data every time mainstream
world that hinder our ability to protect and care for standards were applied to many of our people in
people under the currently toxic conditions (Blume, culturally inappropriate ways. Nobody was
2020). First, slow science is not responsive to concerned about jumping ahead of data during the
quickly changing public views and policies. “culture-free” era of psychology, insisting upon
Second, scientific research needs to be applying cultural uniformity in psychology, which
decolonized (Smith, 2012). Third “small steps” has harmed racial and ethnic minorities, as well as
psychology does not begin to address the large, others, as a result. The truth is that psychology has
intergenerational, and global problems the world is a history of generalizing well beyond the limits of
currently experiencing. Fourth, skeptical science is WEIRD data, but these leaps were sanctioned just
not well-suited to serving the needs of demoralized as long as the jump remained true to mainstream
people. Fifth, mainstream psychological research data and interpretation. The caution expressed by
does not necessarily endorse social justice action psychological scientists about exceeding the data
as a goal (Behar- Horenstein & Feng, 2015). has been unevenly applied and has not
Moreover, it does not actively address the necessarily served the interests of BIPOC people.
oppressed‘s need to become liberated
(Comas-Díaz & Torres Rivera, 2020). Certainly,
mainstream psychological research needs to
become decolonized (Barnes, 2018). Finally, Sometimes being nimble in
instead of fully leveraging its size, structure, and defense of psychological
influence as advocacy tools for marginalized
communities, APA’s excessive concern about
well-being means being socially
litigation makes it risk averse at a time when there and globally responsible despite
is a need for nimbleness and innovative risk-taking our lack of knowledge and data. .
to benefit those we serve.
Division 45 members are among the most
agile group of psychologists working to advance
An Indigenous Perspective
Nobody was concerned about jumping
Worldwide Indigenous wisdom and knowledge
ahead of data during the “culture-free” have generally been discounted, neglected and or
era of psychology, insisting upon culturally appropriated in psychology. Recently a
applying cultural uniformity in new paradigm in psychology was introduced that is
psychology, which has harmed racial based on community, equality, and care of the
earth (Blume, 2020) . This brings a deeper
and ethnic minorities, as well as understanding to the role of psychology in BIPOC
others, as a result. The truth is that groups. For example, in Indigenous communities,
psychology has a history of there are often strong expectations that
professionals such as psychologists will not only
generalizing well beyond the limits of
provide services that advance the well-being of the
WEIRD data, but these leaps were individuals that comprise the community but also
sanctioned just as long as the jump use their privileged positions to advocate for the
remained true to mainstream data and psychological well-being of the community as a
whole. From an Indigenous perspective, there is a
interpretation. sense of social responsibility infused into
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psychology that compels us to take steps to heal
individual community members while also seeking
to heal the social order that sickens communities.
We cannot practice healing
Our people are harmed by racism and hate.
psychology without
Our people are harmed by income and wealth acknowledging the damage
inequality. Our people are harmed by historic done by colonialism and
trauma, intergenerational trauma, and present day
exploitation and oppression. Our children and coloniality in our world even to
grandchildren will be harmed even more. All of this day. Our ancestors might
these sources of psychological distress are our
concern as psychological guardians of the people. ask, why are you willing to
All of those sources of concern represent the psychologically bandage our
vestiges of colonialism in our social systems today.
people on a daily basis but
Our biggest contemporary challenges are
the result of colonialism: exploitation of the Earth, unable to address those forces
lack of social justice, oppression, inequality, and in society that cause the
racism. These challenges negatively impact those
we are charged to serve and defend every day. wounds you treat? This is a fair
We cannot practice healing psychology without question that begs to be
acknowledging the damage done by colonialism
and coloniality in our world even to this day. Our
answered.
ancestors might ask, why are you willing to
psychologically bandage our people on a daily
basis but unable to address those forces in society
that cause the wounds you treat? This is a fair
question that begs to be answered.
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As previously mentioned, the role of the better serve its members and the public? How can
Indigenous warrior has been stereotyped and Division 45 help psychology to become a
misinterpreted throughout colonial history. Perhaps decolonized/post colonized/decolonial discipline?
the biggest misconception is the belief that warriors There was also consideration for the
are aggressors, but in reality a warrior’s primary psychological defense of past, present, future.
purpose was and is in defense of the people How can we protect and pass along the sacred
regardless of whether there is war or peace. history of our people? How can we connect and
Warriors were charged with the protection honor our ancestrality? How can we nurture
and care of the most vulnerable, such as children, BIPOC cultural wealth? How can we strengthen
elders, refugees, immigrants, and the sick. In other our people’s resilience? How can we support our
words, the warrior is the guardian of the people’s post traumatic growth? How can we
vulnerable—those who cannot stand up for nurture our people’s ability to thrive?
themselves. We, as Division 45 psychologists, are
also warriors in defense of our people who are
vulnerable, especially in the present context.
How can we define and address
The warrior’s path is to oppose colonial and
neocolonial forces that contribute to the the present barriers to diversifying
psychological damage we address daily. We APA that hinder the ability to
cannot selectively choose those forces that are
nimbly respond to threats to our
easily confronted and overcome; on the contrary,
we must be willing to take on those forces that people? Into the future, how can
have had and continue to have the greatest and APA advance an agenda that
most extensive negative impact on Indigenous and respects future generations,
communities of color.
mutuality, and the interdependent
Division 45 is a warrior/guardian/healer
whole of the planet? How can we
division charged with protecting our people in the
larger society and in APA. Our role is to represent assist to make psychology more
multicultural psychology to both the public and oriented to considering
APA. Questions we intend to reflect upon in the sustainable psychological
work of the Warrior’s Path Task Force include the
following:
well-being and advancing
psychological wellness among
How can Division 45 be a refuge for the
public under assault? How can Division 45 help those who are to come?
APA to decolonize in order to diversify, cultivate a
culture of inclusion, and explicitly integrate
antiracist policies and practices and therefore
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How can APA support the Indigenous 1. Honor the initiatives of our elders
Aymara worldview of buen vivir (living well/life of
2. Recover, Respect, and Protect the cultural
fullness) that promotes a collective global
history of our division
wellbeing in balance with nature (Peredo, 2019,
Villalba, 2013)? How can we enhance the 3. Identify the barriers within APA that prevent the
relevance and efficacy of psychology by integrating efficient and effective use of its political
Indigenous wisdom and knowledge? To achieve influence to care for and protect our people in a
those aims, it is the responsibility of the APA to timely fashion including:
transform its organizational colonialism to a. Barriers in the bylaws and association
psychologically benefit the world for all time. rules that prevent APA from more
nimbly responding in defense of our
The Warrior’s Path: Rationale people
b. Organizational barriers to diversifying
The Indigenous perspective of a warrior is
APA
as defender of the peace. Warriors are first
charged with the care and protection of the most c. Barriers to transformative truth and
vulnerable. Second, they are charged with reconciliation processes within APA to
promoting decolonial approaches and opposing foster trust, healing, and cultural
destructive colonial forces that violate peace, transformation
inequity, and systemic oppression. Finally, our
4. Advocate for decolonization processes for a
warriors are charged with promoting psychology’s
psychologically healthier, inclusive, and
inclusiveness through the integration of Indigenous
equitable present and future inside and outside
wisdom into mainstream psychological knowledge.
of psychology
a. Consider the role for both
The Psychologist as Warrior environmental and social justice in
those processes
1. Psychologists are defenders of the peace and
guardians of wisdom responsible for caring for b. Create Initiatives in defense of our
and protecting the people elders, to honor and respect the history
of Division 45
2. Division 45 members are the defenders of the
peace specifically for culture, ethnicity, and c. Promote decolonial approaches to
race inside and outside of psychology psychology.
3. Division 45 is an entity of the American
Psychological Association and subject to the
strengths and limitations of APA as an
organization. Therefore our greatest impact
may be to encourage organizational
transformation in order to enhance APA’s
ability to advocate for and protect our people.
The Charge for the Task Force:
The charge of the task force is to determine
what courses of action will enable members of
Division 45 to serve more effectively and efficiently
as psychological warriors in defense of our people
inside and outside of psychology. Areas that could
be examined and considered include how to:
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As psychologists, we are presented with the existing conditions of oppression by failing to
the unique opportunity to be teachers and challenge the hegemonic views that marginalize
facilitators of culturally competent change. groups of people, perpetuate deficit-based
Recently within the field, there has been a call to ideologies, and continue to disenfranchise the
decolonize knowledge and practice, urging us to diverse clients and communities” that we serve
consider areas of professional reform and (Gorski & Goodman 2014, p. 148). Colonialism
recalibrate some of our core competencies Imposes individuals and communities to the
(Adams, 2019; Adams, Dobles, Gomez, Kurtis & colonizer’s control and cultural practices. While
Molina, 2015[LC1] ; Cruz & Sonn, 2011; many refer to colonization as a term of the past,
Maldonado-Torres, 2017). Since 1960, the APA there are many examples of its presence in
has worked to adopt many policies that address modern day life.
issues of power and privilege. In 2017, the APA
For example, coloniality of power refers to
adopted the Multicultural Guidelines: An Ecological
how systems of power, control, and dominance,
Approach to Context, Identity and Intersectionality.
prevalent during European colonization, continue
In 2019, the APA published Guidelines on Race to affect individuals with a legacy of colonization,
and Ethnicity in Psychology: Promoting
exposing them to neocolonization (Quijano, 2000).
Responsiveness and Equity. Recently, the APA
Therefore, coloniality is an organizing principle of
published the co-edited book, Liberation
cultural, intellectual, social, and political domination
Psychology: Theory, Method, Practice, and Social
and exploitation (Quijano, 2007). Indeed, Nelson
Justice (Comas-Díaz & Torres Rivera, 2020).
Maldonado-Torres (2007) stated that people with a
While publications like the aforementioned signify history of colonization breath coloniality every day.
care and consideration of marginalized
Moreover, cultural imperialism, the imposition of
perspectives, we must continue to resist
the colonizer’s culture over the colonized and or
complacency and as such, promote growth and
people with a history of colonization (Said, 1994),
excellence within our field. In order to move from
is a product of coloniality of power. Cultural
small steps toward change to societal imperialism asserts that White Eurocentric ideals,
transformation, we must consider our role in the
behaviors, and norms are superior to BIPOC
amelioration of oppression and promotion of
ideals, norms and behaviors (Jones, 1997).
structural changes that bolster the APA’s (n.d.)
mission to “promote the advancement, Coloniality of power produces coloniality of
communication, and application of psychological knowledge. Of potential interest to psychologists,
science and knowledge to benefit society and coloniality of knowledge refers to how colonizers
improve lives.” used a false authority of knowledge to disqualify
The concept of colonialism refers to the the knowledge of the colonized (Poloma &
pervasive societal and political policies that seek to Szelényi, 2019). Another product of coloniality of
retain authority over marginalized communities by power is coloniality of gender—the designation of
way of imposing dominant cultural practices. women as inferior to men, in order to interrupt the
Colonizing practices refer to those that “reproduce solidarity between oppressed BIPOC women and
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oppressed BIPOC men (Lugones, 2008). stance, the APA will be able to achieve its mission
to further advance the field of psychology. This
Today, we see clear examples of coloniality
shift would mean a turning away from the
of power in the ways that certain communities are
assumption that an individual can be understood in
policed, institutionalized or profiled. We hear
echoes of colonialism within expressions of hatred isolation. A decolonized psychology aims to
represent our collective understanding that
and fear, and acts of violence against communities
individuals are developed within complex and
of minority identities. Considering the pervasive
intertwined social, political and cultural systems, all
presence of colonialism, even today, as leaders
of which have been deeply impacted by
and teachers in our world we must work to
recognize how, when and why colonialism shows domination and subjugation. At the same time,
without the development of a critical awareness of
up in the classroom, in the therapy room, in our
how these systems shape us, we find ourselves
political policies, and beyond.
unwittingly upholding those systems of oppression,
Antithetical to a colonizing perspective, a in a self-perpetuating cycle. To increase the
decolonial psychology emphasizes compassion organization’s critical self-awareness, the APA
over domination, generativity over stagnation, and would benefit greatly from incorporating elements
distributive justice over the privileging of majority of Community Participatory Methods into its
discourse, beliefs and practices (Goodman, 2014). leadership structure. For example, incorporating a
Decolonial theory asserts that the human mind Community Advisory Board representative of
does not exist on its own, but rather, it exists within diverse community stakeholders that would advise
a rich and complex social context. As many the Council of Representatives and the Board of
scholars have noted, it is difficult, if not nearly Directors would be a strong step forward to
impossible, to form one succinct and static addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion in
definition of decolonial psychology. Instead, it is psychology and in the Association. The APA’s
often depicted as a “third force”, a perspective shift adaptation of a decolonial perspective would
that one adopts in an effort to resist dogma and encourage individuals to not only consider the
instead welcome dissonance and disruption of lasting impacts of colonialism and coloniality, but to
epistemology and thought (Mignolo, 2011). also critically engage with one another in a
Therefore , decolonial psychology is in constant collective effort to draft and sustain alternative
evolution. There are many ways in which we can ways of clinical practice, education, and research.
work to reconstruct a decolonized approach to In the end, our hope is that we can bind together
research, training, supervision and practices as helpers and scholars alike to imagine and
(Gone, 2020; Suzuki, et al. 2019). For example, actualize a future where oppressed voices are not
Suzuki and colleagues (2019) suggest that we only recognized, but deeply valued and respected
reach into other ways of knowing in order to avoid in all forms.
cultural encapsulation, emphasize prevention-
related efforts and advocacy, and pay special
attention to the structural determinants of health Review of Barriers to Equity, Diversity and
that impact global health disparities. Furthermore, Inclusiveness in APA and Division 45
they encouraged that we prioritize intersectional
Task force members reviewed the APA
research, recruit and retain a culturally diverse and
Association Rules and Bylaws (APA, 2008) in an
multilingual workforce, and reject traditional ivory
tower models of education and increase effort to identify potential barriers to organizational
change relevant to improving equity, diversity, and
accessibility of care, education, and training.
inclusiveness in the association. Several members
Mainstream psychology has not yet identified organizational inertia as a potential
embraced the idea of a decolonial psychology. barrier to positive change as well as rules put in
However, integrating a decolonial psychology into place to favor the status quo and to make systemic
dominant psychology results in a more inclusive change difficult. It is noted that barriers to hinder,
discipline. It is our belief that by adopting a slow down, or actively resist systemic change have
decolonial, social justice and resistance-oriented
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long been a colonial strategy to benefit the has historically exported an Eurocentric and
privileged of colonial societies and to restrain and ethnocentric psychological perspective to the rest
disempower outgroups . The APA is a product of of the world and has been reluctant to recognize
the larger colonial culture and therefore has long the value of non-mainstream cultural perspectives.
operated under the cultural assumptions of the The discipline of psychology and the APA could
larger society. Today, the colonial assumptions learn a great deal by accepting other cultural
implicit in American society continue to be tacitly perspectives as equal partners with the
accepted without critical reflection, and the mainstream, transforming psychology from a
consequences have been that implicit bias homogenous to a multicultural discipline.
continues to operate within the systemic and
organizational structures of America, including the
discipline of psychology and the APA. Perpetuation of Colonialism in
An itemized commentary of the review of Psychology from Education to
APA Association Rules and Bylaws and how Licensing
certain rules and practices of governance might
implicitly or explicitly be used to hinder Sociologist Rodney Coates (2020)
organizational change can be seen in Appendix emphasized the need to have difficult
B. Broadly speaking, barriers could be described conversations about racism and decolonize
as Association Rules or Bylaws that tended to academe from within, liberating historically
make organizational change slow or difficult, there- underrepresented and marginalized voices.
fore protecting the status quo. This is not surprising Through the development of critical
given that many of the rules and bylaws have their consciousness, we can begin to recognize how the
roots in the traditional governing practices of institutionalization of racism a leads to the
colonial systems (e.g., parliamentary rules) that production of racialized knowledge, and
internalized superiority (for whites) and inferiority
were never intended to protect the rights of
everyone in colonial social systems and institutions (for BIPOC). Responding to the historical traumas
(Echo Hawk, 2013). As discussed, the status quo wrought on BIPOC individuals, French, Lewis,
of APA does not reflect national or global diversity, Mosley, Adames, Chavez-Dueñas, Chen, and
therefore maintaining the status quo is Neville (2020) propose a radical healing
counterproductive to advancing equity, diversity, psychological framework for communities of color
and inclusion. that emphasizes a process of reflecting,
questioning, and recognizing the sociopolitical
The task force identified a number of other realities of “how and why power relations are
potential barriers in the mainstream culture of structured and maintained” (p. 25). Coates (2020)
psychology that may prevent disciplinary and points out that if only faculty of color are
organizational change toward equity, diversity, and responsible for teaching cultural courses and if the
inclusions. First, traditional mainstream psychology pattern is replicated in leadership for diversity,
tends to divorce advocacy from other professional equity, and inclusion, the institution reflects
activities. As a result, psychologists tend to be coloniality and racism. The Ivory Tower must be
reflective observers rather than active agents of dismantled in order to achieve the university’s
change. Second, psychologists are socialized to mission to serve the community and represent its
be skeptical and risk averse. One example is being diverse community.
bound to data and afraid to step beyond what is
known to what should be done. Third, psychology Lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in
as a discipline has a bias toward the pre-eminence psychology begins very early in the educational
of western mainstream methods. The result has process, well before graduate school. Diverse
been a discipline that believes strongly in exporting cultural perspectives and antiracist praxis are
western psychology to other cultures and societies, rarely presented in the pedagogy, curricula, and
but has rarely imported other cultural perspectives textbooks of psychology (Boatright-Horowitz,
to transform the mainstream. In this manner, APA Marraccini, & Harps-Logan, 2012; Boysen, 2011;
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Cheung, 2012; Griggs & Jackson, 2013). In diversification of programs is an important goal
addition, despite knowledge that the fairness of (APA Committee on Accreditation, 2019).
psychological assessment and standardized However, methods for diversifying programs are
testing is suspect, they are often employed for not specified in the accreditation standards, only a
gatekeeping functions. Many programs continue to suggestion that programs use best practices,
use the Graduate Record Examination to make which are not defined or specified. In the APA
admission decisions despite evidence of its accreditation standards, there is the requirement
unfairness (ETS, 2010; 2019; Langin, 2019; Miller that programs make “systematic, coherent, and
& Stassun, 2014). In addition, there are concerns long-term efforts to attract and retain students and
about the fairness of the Examination for faculty from diverse backgrounds into the
Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) for program” (APA Committee on Accreditation, 2019,
BIPOC test takers seeking licensure (Macura & p. 7). However, there is limited discussion
Ameen, 2020), suggesting yet another structural concerning how to enhance the climate of a
barrier to diversifying psychology. program other than to suggest efforts to attract and
retain diverse students and faculty (APA
There are numerous other barriers to
Committee on Accreditation, 2018, C-21 D.). Many
diversity, equity, and inclusion in psychology
training and education. APA accreditation programs have and will have difficulties in
attracting and maintaining students and faculty
standards for graduate programs in school,
from diverse backgrounds without addressing the
counseling and clinical psychology have adopted
climates of their programs first, especially
an incremental rather than a transformative
programs that have been historically unwelcoming
approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
to diverse cultural perspectives.
Despite the 44 instances of the word "diversity" in
the 60-page document (APA Committee on Many programs have historically had very
Accreditation, 2019), program policies that are little faculty diversity, according to APA’s workforce
supposed to facilitate the development of analyses (2019). As a result, they are ill equipped
professional competencies, including those in to develop coherent strategies for addressing
“individual and cultural diversity”all too often goals for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in
neglect to address the fear and silencing that many their programs. Without specific recommendations
BIPOC students report. Countless students have for how to address climate problems, including
shared their recent experiences with being defining specific benchmarks for demonstrating
tokenized, dismissed, and penalized (per the progress, the standards of accreditation remain
listserves of organizations including APA Div 45, highly aspirational rather than transformative in
the National Latino Psychological Association practice. Many programs would benefit from
(NLPA), and the Society of Indian Psychologists seeking outside consultation to develop an
(SIP). It is unacceptable that such accredited informed approach to diversity, equity and
programs continue to practice and allow inclusion efforts, s rather than trusting the instincts
microaggressions, prejudice and discrimination. of a historically white-dominated program.
Our elders on the same listservs, too, have shared Diversifying the faculty would be a first step toward
similar experiences from generations prior, diversifying the student body (Turner, 2002). In the
confirming the need for more immediate attention interim, programs with limited diversity may
and redress within these programs. How is APA support their diverse faculty and students with
holding such programs accountable? The CoA mentorship programs that enlist diverse faculty
online summary reports (2020) provide only from outside the program to serve as mentors and
demographic statistics related to the number of a support system.
BIPOC psychologists and students within
Accreditation standards do not explicitly
programs without discussing the program climate
discuss the importance of developing cultural
and experiences of those same BIPOC students,
competence in psychology programs. For example,
interns, and faculty.
the APA Multicultural Guidelines are not mentioned
Accreditation procedures specify that the in either the standards or the implementing
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