Thanks for Not Asking: Samoan Social Practitioner Experiences of Racism and Exclusion in Decision-Making

This chapter critically explores how racism manifests in mainstream youth justice spaces. The value of social practitioners with lived experience being at the forefront of decision-making on policy and program interventions targeting Samoan youth offending in Aotearoa New Zealand is discussed. Research in South Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand – the city with the largest Polynesian population in the world – shows that Samoan practitioners in dominant White spaces feel unlistened to, undermined, bullied, or left out. While their lived experience informs their knowledge about what would work best for their communities, Pacific social practitioners often feel excluded from critical decision-making processes. Named “Ululaau – The power of transformation to curb Samoan youth offending,” (Forthcoming Doctor of Social Work (Massey University) thesis by Jack Scanlan) this qualitative research sought to understand effective ways to reduce Samoan youth offending from former youth-at-risk who are now Samoan social practitioners in South Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Thirty social practitioners from various professions – such as social work, youth work, leadership, management, coaching, and pastoral care – were interviewed using a Talanoa method. Critical race theory was used to interpret the findings. The research uncovered that although lived experience could provide possible solutions, participants were often not part of the decision-making. Participants also underscored the limitations of mainstream western approaches to dealing with Samoan youth offenders. This chapter includes three case studies and discusses how inclusive decision-making in youth justice must value redemption, reclamation, and paying it forward and use community-led approaches.