Center for Rural Health
School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Suite E231
1301 North Columbia Rd Stop 9037
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037
Phone: 701.777.3848
Website: ruralhealth.UND.edu
The University of North Dakota is an equal opportunity / affirmative action institution.
June 13, 2018
Wendy Williams, PhD
2019 National Multicultural Conference & Summit
RE: Arthur W. Blume
Awards Selection Committee
Dear Selection Committee:
It is my honor to recommend Dr. Arthur W. Blume for the 2019 National Multicultural
Conference & Summit Distinguished Elder Award. I have known Dr. Blume for over 10 years as a
mentor and a colleague and believe he is an exceptional candidate for this award. I first met Dr.
Blume as a mentor in the Native to Native Mentoring program sponsored by the National Institute
on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Later on, we worked as colleagues on projects related to indigenous
psychology with the American Psychological Association (APA) and our roles reversed to a degree
when he became President-Elect and later President of the Society of Indian Psychologists (SIP)
where I was the Past-President and a member of the Council of Elders. We have served on
committees together providing an indigenous viewpoint to leadership with both SIP and APA.
Throughout all of our interactions I have been impressed by Art’s gentle guidance, leadership, and
impact on indigenous psychology. He is always willing to offer advice and guidance from his
experience and to accept the same from others who have traveled paths before him. I also
contributed a chapter to a three-book series that Dr. Blume edited and has recently been published
on Social Issues in Living Color. As President of SIP, Dr. Blume lead a delegation of indigenous
Americans to receive an apology to Native People offered by several groups from APA at the
National Multicultural Conference & Summit in Portland, OR in January of 2017.
Dr. Blume is a Professor in Clinical Psychology at Washington State University-Vancouver and a
recognized scholar in indigenous psychology as noted by his receiving the Joseph E. Trimble
Distinguished Contributions to Native and Indigenous Psychology at the 125th American
Psychological Association Conference from the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture,
Ethnicity and Race in 2017. When I first met him as my mentor, Dr. Blume was recognized with his
research on substance abuse. In more recent years he has been a leader, scholar, spokesperson, and
social activist for indigenous psychology among Indigenous psychologists, national organizations,
and most of all with indigenous people themselves. His heart is devoted to doing things to help The
People. He has interacted and listened to people across cultures to provide wisdom when he can,
leadership as it is needed, and learning what is needed instead of jumping in to help in a way that
may be harmful. He is an excellent communicator who starts with listening from the heart and
considering what is said before he speaks. I am very impressed with Dr. Blume’s ability to build
bridges where conflict surfaces, pull together multiple perspectives, and find common ground to
build upon.
The University of North Dakota is an equal opportunity / affirmative action institution.
Given my many levels of interaction with Dr. Blume, I believe he would make an exceptional
recipient of the National Multicultural Conference & Summit’s Distinguished Elder Award. Dr.
Blume’s willingness to share and learn make him an outstanding role model and example.
Although the discipline of Psychology is relatively new to the Western, White, European cultures,
many indigenous cultures have addressed Psychology as part of the whole person for thousands of
years. Dr. Blume’s understanding of multiple perspectives gives him the invaluable wisdom of an
elder in working with others indigenous cultures and fit the role of this award. By spending time
and learning about the cultures, he adds a depth to the knowledge of indigenous psychology that
those viewing it from the outside could never understand. Dr. Blume has also worked
internationally to understand indigenous psychology from other countries.
Dr. Arthur W. Blume has my strongest recommendation for the National Multicultural
Conference & Summit’s Distinguished Elder Award. Without exception, he would be an
exemplary candidate. Thank you for your consideration of Dr. Blume for this prestigious award.
Respectfully,
Jacqueline S. Gray, PhD
Associate Director/Research Professor
Center for Rural Health
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