Natural Helping and Resilience in a Diné (Navajo) Community

Abstract

This article presents findings of a pilot study on natural helping conducted in the southwestern region of the Diné (commonly referred to as Navajo) Nation in Arizona. The sample included 25 individuals identified by community members as natural helpers. Researchers used the same procedures and interview instrument utilized in previous studies of large samples of European American natural helpers in the Northeast and Midwest. Overall, findings support earlier results with respect to how help was initiated, problem type, and helping style. Helpers generally offered help before it was requested and gave instrumental help with environmental problems. Diné natural helping differed from natural helping in other populations studied in the extent to which helping one's relations emerged as a central aspect of individual and community identity. Relationships between helpers and recipients were long-standing, as in earlier studies, but were characterized by a greater degree of closeness and a stronger sense of commonality and reciprocity. Accordingly, there was little sense of social distance between helpers and recipients. Recipients were also more likely to ask for help than recipients in earlier studies. Another difference between Diné respondents and those in earlier studies was the extent to which problems and their solutions were perceived in spiritual terms. Overall, findings suggest the importance of professional helpers recognizing community strengths, particularly informal helping, as a vital resource in Native American communities. Findings further suggest the advisability of collaboration between professional and natural helpers. Detailed implications for research and practice are provided.