Personal Stories, Recovery, & Indigenous Knowledge with Stephen Silva Brave & Donalee Ünal | Ep. 62

The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary Storytelling Podcast

📅 Release Date: December 8th, 2024 🎧 Hosts: Professor Christian Ace Stettler 🎙️ Guests: Stephen Silva Brave and Dr. Donalee Ünal In Episode 62 of The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary Storytelling Podcast, host Professor Christian Ace Stettler engages in a profound conversation with Stephen Silva-Brave and Dr. Donalee Ünal. Together, they explore themes of personal identity, the cultural significance of hair, addiction recovery, and the transformative power of storytelling in education, social work, and community building. About the Guests Stephen Silva-Brave Stephen Silva-Brave, a Lakota citizen, is a licensed social worker and chemical dependency counselor. He is an MSW and PhD student at the University of Texas at Arlington, where his research focuses on decolonized methodologies and addressing systemic challenges in Native and Indigenous communities. A recipient of the CWSE Minority Fellowship and the 2023 Native Forward Scholars Student of the Year, Stephen actively advocates for social justice, equality, and civil rights through his work with MMIW TX Rematriate. Dr. Donalee Ünal, PhD, MPH Dr. Donalee Ünal is an Assistant Professor at Pennsylvania State College of Medicine in the Department of Public Health Science. Her research centers on Indigenous culture as a social determinant of health, promoting well-being, self-determination, and tribal sovereignty. She has presented her work at leading conferences and is widely published on Indigenization and social justice. Dr. Ünal’s work emphasizes Indigenous research methodologies and education that bridges personal narratives and systemic change. Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV-tPqlRqpXDWuI-NOOtbNeitLPYkGIQ8 Revolutionary Shorts Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV-tPqlRqpXAGPDy0ZKBrdSKYPKMEztPa Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@RevolutionarySocialWork/sub_confirmation=1 Featured in this episode: Identity & Hair: The personal and cultural significance of hair as a symbol of beliefs and resilience.

Journey of Recovery: Stories of overcoming addiction, societal responsibility, and the power of connection in recovery.

Education & Engagement: The role of authenticity in teaching and building meaningful student relationships.

Decolonization vs. Indigenization: Understanding these concepts and their application in education and research.

Knowledge Sharing: Indigenous methodologies and critiques of Western academia’s ownership of knowledge.

Resilience & Justice: Advocacy for Indigenous rights and the ongoing fight for equity and acknowledgment. Chapters 00:00 Intro Theme Song 00:35 Introduction and Technical Difficulties 02:33 Personal Stories of Hair and Identity 05:32 Reflections on Hair and Cultural Significance 08:10 Transitioning to Professional Life and Education 10:55 Teaching Practices and Student Engagement 13:35 Steven's Personal Journey and Challenges 21:23 Transformation and Recovery Journey 27:11 The Importance of Sharing Stories and Gratitude 34:15 The Catalyst for Change 35:43 Societal Responsibility in Addiction Recovery 37:24 The Role of Connection in Overcoming Addiction 38:42 The Serenity Prayer: Acceptance vs. Change 44:36 Decolonization vs. Indigenization in Education 52:25 Personal Narratives in Indigenous Research 01:03:41 Indigenous Methodology and Knowledge Sharing 01:08:45 Decolonization and Anti-Racism in Education 01:14:47 Performative Actions vs. Genuine Engagement 01:19:54 Political Acknowledgment and Indigenous Rights 01:25:00 Resilience and the Ongoing Fight for Justice #SocialWork #IndigenousRights #AddictionRecovery #Decolonization #Indigenization #Storytelling #Education #christianacestettler #stephensilvabrave #donaleeunal © A Conscious Party