This presentation/workshop is about the importance of understanding Indigenous American culture, the richness of diversity within and the value of dance therapy as treatment and as a direct means of understanding people from any one of more than 500 ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse Indian Tribes in the United States. The presentation will include a model of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) based on the premise that DEI is a holistic balance of consciousness, commitment, communication, creativity and culture. Workshop participants will identify numerous systemic DEI challenges that Indian Tribes and the US government face. Participants will address questions related to the extent to which DMT’s are both committed and equipped to affect behavioral change on local and/or broad based level requiring psychotherapeutic, ethical, social service/policy development and organizational interventions. 

Eleanor DiPalma, PhD, BC-DMT, LCAT, NCC, Professor, The State University of New York at the Fashion Institute of Technology

Karen Wilson-Stevenson, Interim VP of Institutional Advancement, The City University of New York, Borough of Manhattan Community College