An Offer of Apology to First Peoples in the United States

This keynote presentation will focus on a particular example of Strength in Unity, specifically through the development of the report and the Offer of Apology to Indigenous Peoples of the United States from the American Psychological Association. Through a participatory action approach, the genesis of the apology and work that preceded will be presented. Recommendations and plans that grew out of this process will be described, along with suggestions for how participants may use the documents to inform and supplement their practices, teaching, and research. 

Objectives

• Describe participatory action research components 
• Identify examples of harms to Indigenous Peoples caused by the field of psychology 
• Articulate two recommended action items to practitioners' own practice, teaching, research, and/or organizations 

About Dr. Debra Kawahara

 Dr. Debra M. Kawahara is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Distinguished Professor in the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. She is also the President-elect for the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Kawahara is a multicultural feminist scholar whose work centers on intersectionality, women’s issues, leadership, and the application of multicultural and feminist values and social justice principles in practice. She is widely published and has presented nationally and globally extensively. In 2018, she became the Editor-in-Chief of Women & Therapy.

Her previous leadership roles include being an APA board of director and representative to the APA Council of Representatives for Division 35, an APA Finance Committee member, an Advisory Committee member for the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology (LIWP), Divisions on Social Justice representative, Lead Coordinator for the National Multicultural Conference & Summit, and a National Council of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology delegate. Within the Society of the Psychology of Women (APA Division 35), she served as the co-chair of the Investment Committee and a member of the Task Force on Racial Equity and Social Justice.

She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association as well as the Asian American Psychological Association. In recognition of her work, several awards have been bestowed on her, including an APA Presidential Citation; the Shining Star Award at the National Multicultural Conference & Summit; and the Pioneer Award from the Psychology on Asian Pacific American Women.