Decolonising Social Work in Finland: Racialisation and Practices of Care

This book examines the contemporary social care realities and practices of Finland, a small nation with a history enmeshed in social relations as both coloniser and colonised. Decolonising Social Work in Finland:

· Interrogates coloniality, racialisation and diversity in the context of Finnish social work and social care.

· Brings together racialised and mainstream White Finnish researchers, activists and community members to challenge relations of epistemic violence on racialised populations in Finland.

· Critically unpacks colonial views of care and wellbeing.

It will be essential reading for international scholars and students in the fields of Social Work, Sociology, Indigenous Studies, Health Sciences, Social Sciences and Education.

Listen to:

A round-table discussion recording featuring some of the authors who contributed to the book. The recording is divided into three parts and offers an introduction to how the book came to be and a brief overview of some of the issues the books addresses.

These are the authors who participated in the book launch event:

  1. Dr. Kris Clarke, Professor, University of Helsinki

  2. Dr. Leece Lee-Oliver, (Blackfeet/Choctaw) Associate Professor, California State University, Fresno

  3. Dr Satu Ranta-Tyrkkö, University Lecturer, University of Jyväskylä

  4. Dr Lena Sawyer, University Lecturer, University of Gothenburg

  5. Dr Eveliina Heino, University Lecturer, University of Helsinki

  6. Dr Inka Söderström, University Teacher, University of Helsinki

  7. Smarika KC, doctoral candidate, University of Helsinki

  8. Priscilla Osei, doctoral candidate, University of Helsinki

The first part tells the story of the book and introduces the authors and the topics they cover.

Author Michael Yellow Bird, PhD, Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba., talks about the history of decolonizing social work. He is a member of the MHA Nation (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara) in North Dakota, USA, and a certified, internationally trained mindfulness meditation teacher, professional, and scholar.

In the second part of the recording, the focus shifts to the chapters of the book and the factors that had an impact on each author's writing. It delves into the inspirations behind their work, offering a glimpse into their creative process and the experiences that shaped their stories.

REVIEWS

“Exposing and dismantling the prevailing colonial structures and knowledge systems in social work, this powerful book offers a deep understanding of coloniality in the Nordic countries and beyond.” Kristín Loftsdóttir, University of Iceland

"This is a bold and critical engagement with (de)coloniality, Whiteness, epistemic and structural injustices, and radical imaginaries. While situated in the Finnish context, it has global relevance, providing a depth and breadth of scholarly and experiential knowledges. It certainly succeeds in its aim of challenging the dominance of Western scholarly discourses and reimagining social work futures." Linda Harms-Smith, Professor of Social Work, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Table of Contents

Introduction – Kris Clarke, Leece Lee-Oliver and Satu Ranta-Tyrkkö

Part 1: Exploring Coloniality in the Finnish Social Work Field

1. Between a Rock and Hard Place: Discussing Sámi Issues in Contemporary Finland: A Conversation With Ánneristen Juuso – Ánneristen Juuso (Anni-Kristiina Juuso)

2. Welfare State Nationalism, Family Reunification and Forced Migrants’ Strategies To Surpass Structural Violence – Camilla Nordberg, Joa Hiitola, Hanna Kara and Maija Jäppinen

3. Contesting Universalism in Finnish Health and Social Services: Experiences of Migrant Parents With a Disabled Child – Eveliina Heino, Hanna Kara and Annika Lillrank

4. Homonationalism and Talking Back in Finnish Social Work with Non-Heterosexual People with Refugee Background – Inka Söderström

5. Social workers’ perceptions on structural challenges for minorities’ social care – Kati Turtiainen and Merja Anis

6. Deconstructing racialised and cultural otherisation with young people through pluralistic arts-based social work - Enni Mikkonen

Part 2: Naming and Confronting Epistemic and Structural Injustice

7. Silence So Loud It Hurts: Racialisation, Erasure, and Future-Building in Finnish Social Work - Koko Hubara

8. Transcultural Mental Health As the Colonisation of Racialised Bodies: A Personal Insight – Fadumo Dayib and Kris Clarke

9. Emergent Healing Spaces: Decolonising Healing and Wellness in Finland – Wambui Njuguna

10. Intersectional Knowledge Practices in Academia From Marginal Positions: Testimonios From Researchers of Colour in Finland – Smarika KC, Priscilla Osei and Kris Clarke

Part 3: Reimaging Caring and Social Work Futurities

11. Counter Archiving as a Decolonial Pedagogy of Collective Care – Lena Sawyer, Kris Clarke and Nana Osei-Kofi

12. Post-professional social work? Decolonising social work professionalism through the engagement of community health workers -Saana Raittila-Salo

13. Decolonising Mindfulness, Mindful Decolonisation, and Social Work Futurities – Michael Yellow Bird, and Holly Hatton-Bowers

Conclusion - Kris Clarke, Leece Lee-Oliver and Satu Ranta-Tyrkkö