Decolonizing mindfulness

with Rick Hanson and Dr Michael Yellow Bird

Dr. Michael Yellow Bird and GCC President Rick Hanson discuss the topic of decolonizing mindfulness and using neuroscience research to examine how mindfulness approaches and traditional Indigenous contemplative practices can train the mind and positively change the structure and function of the brain. They discuss the effects of colonization and methods of decolonization, including neurodecolonization, which involves combining mindfulness approaches with traditional and contemporary secular and sacred contemplative practices to replace negative patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior with healthy, productive ones.

Rick Hanson

Dr Michael Yellow Bird

About Michael

Dr. Michael Yellow Bird is a citizen of the Three Affiliated Tribes, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations. He is presently living in Treaty One territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and the homeland of the Metis nation. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and the co-editor of four books: For Indigenous Eyes Only: The Decolonization Handbook, For Indigenous Minds Only, Indigenous Social Work around the World: towards Culturally Relevant Education and Practice, and Decolonizing Social Work, which won a Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award for 2014.

His teaching, writing, research, presentations, and community work, focus on social work with Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous and global health, decolonizing social work approaches, neurodecolonization, neuroscience and social work, and employing mainstream and traditional Indigenous mindfulness practices in tribal communities to promote health and well being.