From: Catherine Adler
To: Blume, Art; Joseph Trimble
Subject: Re: the letter from SIP to the APA
Date: Thursday, November 24, 2016 9:56:14 AM
Dear Art and Joseph,
| stand with you and SIP and would like to lend any energy that can bring about the sort of
response that the Australian Psychological Association was able to so sincerely offer. These
sorts of whole-hearted apologies are the medicine, the truth and reconciliation that does allow for
some much to occur both inwardly and in the world.
Here is the letter that | have sent to my Division 39; | am a reluctant member of the APA since the
torture situation, and have yet to pay this years dues; if being a member would better help me
advocate, | will pay up.
Also, if my letter to division 39 was at all presumptuous or if | misquoted or misdirected please let
me know so that | can can clean things up.
With Warmth and In Spirit,
Catherine
Dear Irwin, Alice, Denni, Donna, Marilyn and all,
Here is the letter from the Society of Indian Psychologists, forwarded first by Stephen Soldz from
Joseph Trimble-
| wonder if we at Div. 39 could take up the requests of SIP, especially the request to offer an
apology similar to the one mentioned in the letter that was issued from the Australian
Psychological Association in it’s oppression, complicit and otherwise, of aboriginal people.
Perhaps this is already underway by our division?
Here is the text from SIP’s letter that quotes the work done by The Australian Psychological
Association:
We, as psychologists, have not always listened carefully enough to Aboriginal and Torres
Strait people. We have not always respected their skills, expertise, worldviews, and unique
wisdom developed over thousands of years. ... we sincerely and formally apologise to
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians for: Our use of diagnostic systems that do
not honour cultural belief systems and worldviews; the inappropriate use of assessment
techniques and procedures that have conveyed misleading and inaccurate messages about
the abilities and capacities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; conducting
research that has benefitted the careers of researchers rather than improved the lives of the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants; developing and applying treatments that
have ignored Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander approaches to healing and that have,
both implicitly and explicitly, dismissed the importance of culture in understanding and
promoting social and emotional wellbeing; and, our silence and lack of advocacy on
important policy matters such as the policy of forced removal which resulted in Stolen
Generations.
Hopefully I will hear back from Joseph and Art today to gain further understanding and direction. Please
let me know if you would like to be kept in this loop or would like to participate in listening more deeply to,
learning from and responding to the needs outlined by the Society of Indian Psychologists. Conversely, if
you are involved with this work would you keep me in your loop please and let me know if there is any way
I can help.
It seems now would be a good time to issue a letter of support from our division similar to the
ones written by the faculties of Connecticut College, Columbia University, The New School, Stony
Brook University, SUNY Binghamton, Syracuse University and many more. If this is not already
happening would anyone like to work on this with me?
Irwin, Thank you so much for your calls. | am hearing from friends at Standing Rock that these
telephone calls to the White House, state representatives, the police departments engaged with
the Water Protectors, television stations asking them to cover this story.....all of these efforts are
making a big difference, our actions are having an impact, our care and involvement big and small
is supporting this important front line effort.
Thank you Donna for sending along the comprehensive list of how to help at Standing Rock; I’ve
reposted it in the email.
The Society of Indian Psychologist web sight is an important resource for information as well as a
form to fill out if you would like to help at Standing Rock and going forward.
There is a syllabus at this web site , New York stands with Standing Rock that can bring one up
to speed on the history of Standing Rock. The Columbia teach in can be accessed as a series of
You tube videos.
May we all be warm and safe this season and send some that warmth and safety onward into the
world.
In Peace,
Catherine Adler, M.A.
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Care
542 Washington Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520
206-920-5391
From: "Blume, Art" <art.blume@wsu.edu>
Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 9:40 PM
To: Joseph Trimble <Joseph.Trimble@wwu.edu>, Catherine Adler <0803catherine@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: the letter from SIP to the APA
Dear Catherine,
Below is the letter | sent to Marilyn Charles and my friend Usha in your division. We greatly
appreciate your support.
Art
We so very much appreciate your support and please feel free to share my message with others
far and wide. In my mind, the more messengers we have delivering a message of justice and
fairness, the better for all of us. Not only have | been mystified/mortified by APA's recent
messages to us by key people in the organization, | (and others) have been astonished that
APA has not taken a very strong and public stance against the hate crime wave that has
occurred. Our strategy has been to relentlessly challenge the inertia of APA on these issues. It
has deeply fatigued us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. However, we are encouraged that
others have joined with us, and hope they will be relentless in this pursuit as well.
As you may have noticed, APA still has not specifically addressed our requests, despite
our messages. Ve understand those responses may take some time given the bureaucracy.
This is a place where relentless support from other APA members would be most welcome. As an
example, the issues related to the APS apology are an area of great concern to us, but
personally | feel reluctant to push APA for an apology that may appear coerced by Native
people (hence, not from APA's heart). Furthermore, | heard second hand (so consider the
source is not direct but from credible people) that a very senior APA elected official was
suggesting that if they apologized to SIP it would open the floodgates for apologies to other
groups (which of course it should), like that would be problematic. Also heard from council
members was a belief that APA circumstances were much different than APS (again second hand
information), implying APA may not have an obligation to apologize.
All of these insensitivities are superimposed over and compounded by the fallout from the election
that has left many us thrown under the bus by certain narrow minded citizens and with genuine
concerns for safety and justice. | certainly understand and appreciate the worries about conflict
and divisions. However, | believe as a Native person that creation will be restored to harmony
and balance with time, and that we are called at this time to represent the best of creation
against the pathological forces (therefore a psychological issue front and center) that are
disturbing the beauty of creation. We welcome our allies with open arms.
Wado--Thank you so much for your support.
Very best regards,
Art
Art Blume, Ph.D. (Cherokee/Choctaw)
President, Society of Indian Psychologists
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
woes Original message --------
From: Joseph Trimble <Joseph. Trimble@wwu.edu>
Date: 11/23/16 8:34 AM (GMT-10:00)
To: Catherine Adler <0803catherine@gmail.com>
Cc: "Blume, Art" <art.blume@wsu.edu>
Subject: Re: the letter from SIP to the APA
Good day to you Catherine and thank you for your interest. Art is included in this message so you
can connect directly with him to express your support. There’s more to the story that is disturbing
to many of us. Attached you will find a series of letters from the Society of Indian Psychologists
and APA specifically Cynthia Belar and Susan McDaniel. Please take the time to read them over
and then reflect on what concerned groups should do about it. | am stunned these days but even
more so when | read the tone and content of the letters sent out under the APA logo.
| know that Art, Gayle, Melinda, Carolyn, Joanna, and Christopher who represent SIP well will not
back down from the matter. In addition to my shocked state of late the APA correspondence is
even more shocking and staggering.
And with this note | trust you will have a most pleasant coming holiday.
—Joseph
Joseph E. Trimble, PhD
Distinguished University Professor
Professor of Psychology
Western Washington University
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Office —
Fax — 360.650.7305
Email — joseph. trimble@ wwu.edu
Web — bttp-//ci, wwu.edu/trimble/index. htm
From: Catherine Adler <O803catherine@gmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 12:03 AM
To: Joseph Trimble <Joseph. Trimble@wwu.edu>
Subject: RE: the letter from SIP to the APA
Dear Joseph,
Thank you so much for sending the letter from SIP on to Stephen Soldz who forward it on the list
serve at Division 39.
In your note you mention getting in touch with Art. Yes, | would like to show my support and be a
part of any effort for the people of Standing Rock. Can you please send me contact info of “Art”.
With Warmth,
Catherine Adler
