Decolonising identity stories
Decolonising practice
An introduction from Tileah Drahm-Butler
Decolonising Identity Stories
Tileah Drahm-Butler discusses how narrative therapy can be used as a decolonising practice.
Now you can read Tileah’s chapter on the same topic:
Decolonising identity stories: Narrative practice through Aboriginal eyes
This chapter is from the book Aboriginal narrative practice: Honouring Storylines of price, strength and creativity by Barbara Wingard, Carolynanha Johnson and Tileah Drahm-Butler
Monica A. Garcia
May 10, 2023I resonated so much with Tileah Drahm-Butler and the video decolonising Identity stories. I felt she was talking about my people. Literally that video made me cry.
Hadassah Steinberg
April 24, 2023It was a good reminder to hear about the ‘anti-colonial framework’ and that colonisation is ongoing! I think this is evident in many health services which take a very medicalised approach with a focus on diagnosis and problems rather than elevating the voice of the individual.
doctorjbeer
March 11, 2023I’ve been thinking a lot about how shame isn’t inherent in us, but is given to us by others – an insidious gift. I’m descended from Settlers, and, having worked in a number of First Nations communities, I understand the privilege that entails, however I was also a single teenage mum in the 1970s, so I also understand how shame is bestowed on a daily basis.
Modern culture thrives on the ‘damage-centred story’. I can’t imagine how the media would survive without it. It is extremely difficult to counter the sheer volume of negative First Nations stories and how they impact on a daily basis on First Nations people. Similarly the welfare industry, which, designed to support people in crisis, has, as Noel Pearson so often points out, reinforced helplessness rather than empowering.
What Tileah describes is a beautiful way to support the hurt in people without reinforcing the overwhelming emphasis on damage, and focusing instead on strength.
Liz Evans
March 8, 2023Really helpful and well presented thank you Tileah; I took many things from this..
Remembering that when people define their own problems rather than being labelled it brings forth personal agency, yes indeed, who are we to think they have the right to define people’s problems-it’s about the experience of that person! I liked the example of the ‘homeless’ woman who living there in the camp was finding meaning in her life despite the perception of others, we must always be respectful enough to ask not assume anything.
Also love the idea that telling own stories is an act of resistance in itself; reminds me that people have rights and strength
may.doncon
January 13, 2023Tileah’s words are so powerful. Unfortunately our health and community services still operate within a “damaged-centred”model when it comes to working with Aboriginal people and most often miss the other aspects of their stories, of acts of resistance which for many people is survival against all odds.
tina.stasuik
December 8, 2022Tileah’s words and the story of standing up to shame within her community are a beautiful reminder of how Shame comes into communities, impacts those communities, and how we can all work to re-author these stories into richer, fuller, more hopeful stories for each individual’s future and the community’s future. I love how the re-authoring works through mother and daughter; such a beautiful bond of resistance and love.
annikt
November 2, 2022I loved Tileahs presentation and the way that she spoke so sensitively about shame. I found this really powerful, engaging and practical. I will definitely be integrating the invitation to externalise shame into my practice, thank you for sharing your stories .
hcherl
November 2, 2022Thank you for your knowledge, I appreciate your mindfulness around the terms counselling and replacing it with “yarning” and making others aware of the impacts the term counselling can have on Indigenous people. There are many labels that come with therapy/counselling, the DSM5 is extensive and I agree, “labels does not recognize the history of injustice, labels are colonizing”.
Sarah
September 14, 2022Narrative therapy gives a voice for the story teller to tell their stories in a non pathologising space. Tileah’s presentation resonates with what I believe in. People are capable of telling their stories and with appropriate collaboration with the therapist, they find agency for their own healing. When multiple stories are explored, it makes it possible to find actions of resilience. When the negative storylines dominate, it becomes difficult to see any possibilities as it erodes any opportunity for promoting a person’s or collective identity and dignity. Tileah has shown how therapist can invite people to share and reflect and strengthen their stories of resistance and I have enjoyed listening to your work.
Thank you
Carson
July 21, 2022I appreciated the concept of ‘yarning with a purpose’. As a western practitioner (White Canadian), I am often unsure of how well western models of counseling support Indigenous individuals. Narrative therapy and yarning seem to be a way of connection that allows for deeper meaning and connection to culture. There are parallels to the knowledge I’ve been given through my Social Work degree, while also been a separate and unique way of engaging. Where I feel my knowledge is insufficient or not relevant to those I work with, I will reflect on the concept of yarning in the hopes it can bridge the gap.
jasmine.stadhams
July 18, 2022We are the first storytellers; it speaks volumes that we can have these spaces that are safe and culturally appropriate to narrate our stories on ones journey to healing without judgement.
brighdecampbell
June 23, 2022I really like the notion of strong stories and pulling at the threads of those – I can see a role for these in my current practice as a reframe of difficulties and ways to help people connect with what the value and what they need. Also, the important reminder of the problem as separate from the person – I loved the story of care taking and the snake as it touched into much deeper meaning that the problem of homelessness
alexmiles94
June 5, 2022This topic was powerful. I can really see how narrative therapy provides an authentic space for people to reclaim self determination. It truly centres them as the expert of their own lives and honours their voice and wisdom.
Skye
May 30, 2022This was a very insightful section and I feel like it relates to a strength-based practice or approach that I’ve learned about.
Michael Mcneill
May 12, 2022Thank you guys this therapy allows people to create a new story, built by the awareness that our whole story is of value
that we don’t have to be limited by past that through story telling we are set free to become all we are meat to be
remember that your story is more powerful than you think
Nathel
May 4, 2022Just listening to this course I know why I feel interested in Narative therapy it’s already touched my soul and connected me to how much Shame plays a part in our mob’s lives. Thank you as this is another beautiful way to help our people.
Pat
March 19, 2022Decolonising practice involves moving away from stories imposed on people by society and looking instead for exceptions such as stories of survival, resistance and courage to create strong stories. It involves externalisng any problems and placing them within a social and historical context.
Jesse
February 23, 2022“Therapeutic yarns that allow time, free-flowing conversation, two-way sharing, and are guided by purpose.” So many wonderful lessons in this module. I loved that respectful back-and-forth nature of asking influential questions, but honouring the leadership of the story-sharer (as the expert of their own life). This inherently begins to cultivate an environment where people can talk about their stories with a foundation dignity and safety.
kenmarchtaler
February 19, 2022As a Canadian, I found it extremely interesting to hear how much the Australia aboriginal stories echoed the trauma suffered by our North American indigenous peoples. I really value the role that Michael White and the Narrative Therapeutical approach has played in healing process, and how Barbara Wingard, Carolynanha Johnson and Tileah Drahm-Butler have applied it in their work. I have a greater understanding of yarning, and how important it is not only for indigenous peoples, but for anyone who seeks to heal from the past.
boodika
February 7, 2022This part of the course was such a rich description of therapy sessions, thank you. It has reminded me of the political and spiritual aspects of Narrative Therapy that I fell in love with fifteen years ago, which inspired me to qualify as a Family Therapist. Although I have used externalising as a technique in my practice a lot I have not used it in relation to “shame”, and that was a fascinating and useful idea to take by to my practice. Thank you
Ian Howells
February 2, 2022Tileah’s presentation highlighted the appropriateness of using the term ‘Yarning” to replace the term ‘counselling’ when working with Indigenous people.
lori@agcontext.com.au
January 27, 2022I found the video and reading both very insightful, the examples provided were also a good way to envisage how these conversations can go, to help ascertain a persons strong story running behind the problem story. The de-centering process would take practice to allow for the flow and two-way sharing which is something that has often been left out with client load/time demands, against outcomes in government work. I like that this approach comes from curiosity and exploration and is person focused.
Susie L
January 6, 2022As a non-Aboriginal woman, there are lots of opportunities for me to reflect how I can support the client as expert and support the telling of their stories while working with them. The addressing of the power dynamic and the creation of a safe place, as identified by the client has made me think again about how best to discuss and break this down.
Rebeccah
December 21, 2021That was a very useful chapter as it has specific examples of working with individuals. I am looking forward to receiving the book to enrich my learning. Thank you
debbie webster
December 16, 2021I reflected on the practice of externalization of shame as an integral part of decolonizing narratives and how this supports our well-being.
droach
November 24, 2021I reflected on the importance of defining well-being in our own ways and in our own language/story. I particularly could relate to the reading in where issues were discussed as the Thing. It made me feel that is so important to externalize shame and put it in its place and looked at- it is at the core of recognising the ongoing colonisation that occurs. This section gave an incredibly useful framework .
Michelle wilkinson
November 21, 2021yes I heard a theme of standing up for justice, started at a young age, but continues until today, it has become formative on her life/
Sandra Owen
November 16, 2021I reflected on the practice of decolonizing narratives and considered how that may sound. It is a powerful way to rise above the powerlessness of being colonized. I like it
Clare
November 4, 2021Something that stood out to me about decolonising identity stories was the importance of externalising shame, and I thought the questions Tileah shared as examples of what she asks were thought-provoking and very useful.
Pandora Galea
October 25, 2021‘Yarning with a purpose’ is a revolutionary phrase that should be incorporated in counselling practice as it offers a non-threatening lead into healing. Tileah offered a plethora of wisdom through theoretical and practical examples thereby allowing me to internalise the processes at a deeper level. Thankyou so much for this insight. The most significant to me were: the acknowledging of the impact of deeply rooted racial and cultural biases on the collective impacting the individual; the necessity to identify shame and its insidious impact for the individual and their mob; the search for the ‘double-story’ as a cooperative exercise between healer and recipient and the returning of power to the individual when they are enabled to witness and evaluate the stories in order to find solutions. Simply put, these acts combine to reintegration of the whole individual by acknowledging and accepting all facets of themselves thereby endowing these traumatic experiences to be chapters in their lives rather than having the power to be their whole story or identity. In undertaking such a courageous journey the individual also empowers their society as a collective.
Mercy
October 15, 2021Telling and re-telling our stories is important in de-colonizing our identities. Stories of marginalized people have been told and re-told, in ways that pathologize and disempower. As a person of African descent, I can relate to how we have been labelled as helpless and in need of a savior.