Re-imagining Multiculturalism: Small Steps towards Indigenizing Acculturation Science

Although acculturation (the changes arising from continuous intercultural contact) is among the most extensively studied topics in contemporary social science,  research concerning the processes and outcomes of acculturation in indigenous peoples is relatively rare. This is a critical omission given that much of the intercultural contact across the globe is occuring in the native lands of the world’s 476 million indigenous peoples. While research with immigrant groups and majority members of receiving societies has shown that multiculturalism, defined in terms of multicultural contact, ideology and policies, provides social and psychological benefits to both groups,

before examining the proposition that multiculturalism is the most “advantageous” approach to cultivating positive intercultural relations or that it promotes enhanced  psychological well-being in native, aboriginal and First Nations communities, it is important to understand what multiculturalism means to indigenous peoples and how they experience it in their everyday lives. Accordingly, this presentation focuses on notions of multiculturalism in a post-colonial settler society and our work with Māori, the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Combining inductive and deductive approaches. I describe three mixed methods studies that have yielded rich, nuanced data about indigenous conceptualizations of multiculturalism. The results indicate that the defining features of multiculturalism found in acculturation science overlap to a limited extent with indigenous perspectives and that additional social and political issues must be addressed to ensure that multiculturalism can also benefit indigenous peoples.

Colleen Ward FRSNZ is a Professor of Cross-cultural Psychology at Victoria University of Wellington and Founding Director of the Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research.  As cross-cultural and intercultural psychologist, her research focuses on acculturation, adaptation and intercultural relations. Colleen enjoys both basic and applied research and has acted as a consultant to governement and NGOS in New Zealand on issues relating to cultural diversity, immigration and social cohesion. She has been recognized nationally for her work in these areas as a recipient of the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Te Rangoi Hiroa Medal and internationally by a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Academy of Intercultural Research. Colleen is also an Honorary Professor at Durham University.