First Native American to earn a doctorate in social work retires

Cherokee man recalls early struggles

YPSILANTI MI
Alison Reddy 11/30/2005

"He is a low-key, respected man who has been a great influence on many people," said Dr. Kay McGowan. "It is not the Indian way to toot your own horn."

McGowan, an anthropology professor at Eastern Michigan University, was referring to Dr. Ronald Lewis. Lewis, a professor who retired this academic year, was the first Native American in the United States to earn a doctorate in social work.

According to Lewis, his interest in the social work profession started when he was an undergraduate student majoring in history in Oklahoma.

"Another woman, who was also a Native American, was in social work and convinced me to try it," Lewis said.

After deciding that this was the field in which he belonged, Lewis was then convinced by a mentor to get a masters degree in 1963. This was a difficult time for American Indians to get into college.

With this degree, Lewis became the psychiatric social worker in the hospital in his Cherokee community in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Lewis was inspired to change the way health care was being run for the people.

"When you walked into the Native American hospital in my hometown, it was just like walking into any other hospital," Lewis said. "There was no Indian culture and Indians seemed to get the worst diagnoses."

Motivated to continue to change conditions for his native people, Lewis then began to be known as a national figure.

"I got pulled into the national scene," Lewis said. "I took a stand and was called to Washington. I met with Ted Kennedy."

In Washington, Lewis learned many cultural differences between Native American and white societies.

"In my community, we use words to communicate," Lewis said. "In Washington, words are used to hide and manipulate. This was the hardest lesson to learn. There are no cuss words in my language. Everyone in Washington wants their own way, while in my community we sit down and everyone shares their thoughts."

After being in Washington for a period of time, Lewis was asked to pursue a doctorate in social work. While completing this degree at the University of Denver, Lewis was called to assist his people in the seizure of Alcatraz Island in 1968 and at the standoff at Wounded Knee, S.D., in the early 1970s.

"When I got there, it was very hard to get out," Lewis said. "I was very committed to Indian affairs, and I believe it was wrong what the United States was doing. I didn't belong to any groups, so I could talk freely about my beliefs."

After these events and finishing his PhD, Lewis wrote several proposals to the United States government to raise awareness of the problems occurring with his people.

McGowan said Lewis helped to write a government act in 1978 to help Native American children to be adopted by other Native American families.

"The Indian children were losing their traditional culture, but they weren't white," McGowan said. "Dr. Lewis was the first to try to correct this problem."

After his work with the government, teaching at many different universities and being a guest speaker at many prestigious occasions, Lewis became a professor at EMU.

"Dr. Lewis came to speak at Michigan State as a distinguished professor," McGowan said. "Someone from Eastern heard him and offered him a job. He spent the last 11 years of teaching at Eastern."

Lewis said the limelight is not the reason that he works for justice.

"I have had the press ask me if it is an honor to be called the 'Father of Native American social work,'" Lewis said. "I actually found it very difficult because I had no mentor to turn to. It was a very lonely existence, and it was difficult when people said those things. Think about what it's like to be the only Indian in a class; you stand out."

November was Native American Heritage month, and Lewis wants people to learn about the culture of his people and understand it.

"People should see me first as Dr. Lewis and then see the fact that I'm an Indian, but instead they see me as an Indian first and wonder how I got to where I am," Lewis said.

Lewis encourages generations after him to continue to fight for their traditions and beliefs and to simply be themselves.

"You've got to be who you are," Lewis said. "It sounds trite, but I've spent my whole life not letting people change me. Also, you have to keep a sense of humor."

Even though the Native American people are still struggling - Lewis said the average age of death is 47 - he believes that everyone struggles for different reasons.

"When I go to the Trail of Tears ceremonies, they tell us that all of us travel our own Trail of Tears," Lewis said. "Young people should know that. Everybody is involved in the Trail."

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December 2005 Reports

Last updated on December 09, 2005