Empower your alienated students to cultivate a deep sense of belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. This fully updated edition of "Reclaiming Youth at Risk" by Larry K. Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg, and Steve Van Bockern merges Native American knowledge and Western science to create a unique alternative for reaching disconnected…

In writing about the Circle of Courage, Martin Brokenleg and his co-authors brought together different professions, racial backgrounds, and upbringing (Brendtro, Brokenleg, & Van Bockern, 2002). While the Circle of Courage philosophy transcends culture, they initially used Native American images and stories to express these ideas. Because…

The most often repeated phrase in Lakota ceremonies and life is "Mitakuye Owas'in" Literally translated as "My relatives, you-all [are]" This is mostly glossed into English as "all my relations." This naturally raises the question of to whom this is said. The answer is: to all things. To humans and to other…

The Circle of Courage[TM] philosophy emerged from research on how Native American cultures reared respectful, responsible children without resorting to coercive discipline. It was first presented at international conferences of the Child Welfare League of America in Washington, DC, and the Trieschman Center in Boston. The model entered the…

Introduces the conceptual background of a model of youth development that utilizes the principles of the Native-American Circle of Courage. Discusses the four principles of the Circle of Courage: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. Discusses the development of the model and the life of the artist who developed that artwork for the…

Demographic changes in population continue to bring children of different cultural backgrounds to classrooms. This article provides suggestions teachers and counselors can use to bridge cultures. Using the parable of a medicine tree, it explains how no society can endure without caring for its young. (Author/JDM)

Fixation on deviance and deficit in children with emotional/behavioral problems fosters greater alienation. Native American empowerment values show a better way: significance is nurtured in a community celebrating belonging; competence is ensured by giving all opportunities for mastery; power is available to all by cultivating independence; and…

Notes that many who work with troubled children assume curriculum of control to be necessary. Examines ways in which traditional treatments have fostered greater alienation. Suggests foundations for alternative model rooted in empowerment philosophy rather than obedience. Presents model of youth empowerment based on contemporary developmental…

The Circle of Courage is a holistic approach to reclaiming youth, which is grounded in resilience science and in values of deep respect for the dignity of children and youth. This article identifies the core assumptions of the Circle of Courage model and its research foundation in positive youth development. In order to thrive, all children need…

The content of this book integrates Native American child-rearing philosophies with Western psychology in an attempt to provide a different perspective on troubled youth. It focuses on the concept of "reclaiming," an environment that creates changes that meet the needs of both the young person and the society. To reclaim is to recover and redeem,…