2 Place in Anti-Oppressive Practice: Rurality, Decolonization, and Equity (1/9) -- Rural and Northern Social Work Practice:

2 Place in Anti-Oppressive Practice: Rurality, Decolonization, and Equity Michelle Lam and Denise Humphreys What does it mean to practice social work with rural service-users from an anti-oppressive perspective? We are settler women living in the Canadian prairies who share our perspectives and insights on oppressive practice and equity issues in rural human service contexts. Using the method of duo-ethnography, “a collaborative research methodology in which two or more researchers of difference juxtapose their life histories to provide multiple understanding of the world” (Sawyer & Norris, 2012, p. 9), we draw on personal narratives as in education and social work settings. Recurring themes of displacement, colonialism, accessibility, ethics, and stigmatization reveal themselves through our reflections. I (Denise) have experienced rural social work as an outsider living in an urban setting. My main practice was working with youth, where many youth have been unjustly displaced from their rural communities through the child welfare system. Other areas of my past practice also relate to rurality through other people displaced from rural areas and I have also travelled to provide services periodically in rural areas. I (Michelle) was an English as an Additional Language educator for newcomers living in non-metropolitan areas. As an educator, I witnessed the assimilative forces involved in “welcoming” newcomers to rural Canada. Together, we describe and further explore equity issues associated with education and social services provided to people living in rural areas from our distinct professional backgrounds. It is important to note that both Denise and Michelle identify as white women, which shapes our experiences and understandings, leaving experiences of Black, Indigenous, and racialized[1] social workers, and/or adherents of religions not widely represented in rural and northern communities in Canada outside the scope of what we can speak to in our discussions. Our experiences suggest that change in provision of services is needed to address the oppression and inequity rural residents may encounter through dominant human service practices. After recognizing these issues, we suggest further action is needed towards achieving anti-oppressive practice and more equitable futures for rural residents. Learning Objectives By the end of this chapter you will have had the opportunity to: - Learn about the application of anti-oppressive practice in rural settings - Learn about using reflexivity when working with rural communities - Learn how to use practice frameworks that may be helpful when working with rural service-users - Learn about the application of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Code of Ethics, Values, and Guiding Principles in context with anti-oppressive practice Rurality and the Importance of Place Rural contexts within the western Canadian provinces are a significant portion of the population, although the term “rural” is