TRIBAL MEMBER NEWS
Tribal Member Accepted into Ph.D. Program at Portland State University
Lisa Norton Will Pursue a Doctorate Degree in Social Services Work in Indian Country
J
By Brent Merrill
Tribal member Lisa Norton wants to
change people’s lives for the better. And
after receiving her master’s degree in so
cial work from Portland State University
in June, she’s off to a good start.
Norton’s first step was applying to
and being accepted into PSU’s Ph.D.
Program in Social Work and Social Re
search. The Ph.D. Program is set up to
prepare students to understand critical
social welfare problems and to conduct
research and policy analysis related to the
solution of these problems.
The program also will prepare stu
dents to teach in accredited schools
of social work and eventually to take
responsibility for program development
and administration in human services
organizations. Students completing the
program would then ideally be in a posi
tion to assume a leadership role in the
social welfare community.
Despite the fact that the subject matter
Norton will be dealing with in her profes
sion (abuse of Native women) can be bru
tally uncomfortable for folks to discuss,
she says it is extremely important to get it
out in the open so healing can begin.
Norton, the daughter of Margo Hud
son, said she sees herself in a unique
position in Indian Country as a researcher
and an advocate for victims. She wants to
see the focus shifted to the perpetrator and
off the victim.
“Conventional wisdom focuses on
the victim and not the perpetrator,” said
Norton in a matter-of-fact, straight in
your face style during an interview at a
Starbucks in Dallas. “The system is not
set up to support victims. Victims are the
ones who are focused on. ‘What did you
do?’ is usually the first question a victim
is asked after an assault.”
Norton says the process starts with
defining sexual assault.
“Native women are raped at two and a
half times the norm,” she explained.
Norton said her professional desire to
help Native women in abusive situations is
personal. In her Statement of Professional
Interest and Goals, Norton explained her
desire to help and where it comes from.
“My professional interests and goals
have really developed out of my personal
interests and goals,” said Norton. “I am
sure I am not unique. We all choose a
particular path based on possibilities we
are aware of. In my case, I knew early on
that my passion was making the world a
better place. 1 just wasn’t sure exactly how.
What I am sure of is what 1 know to be true
personally based on my lived experience.
“I am a member of the Confederated
Tribes of Siletz Indians. I have lived and
worked on the reservation for 20 years,” ex
plained Norton in her statement. “1 know that
sexual assault has touched every member of
the Tribe in some way, either by personal
experience or that of a family member.”
Norton proudly said she sees a re
sponsibility to be a role model.
“1 know that as someone who has suc
cessfully negotiated the higher education, 1
have a responsibility to those who follow to
encourage and serve as a role model myself,”
said Norton in her statement. “I have chosen
to make application to the Ph.D. Program in
Social Work and Social Research in order
to pursue my professional goal of reducing
sexual assault and associated secondary
trauma in Indian Country. Further, my work
in the field of social work will serve to en
courage and set an example for other Native
American students who desire to pursue
higher education in social work.”
Norton sees her work as being more
than just an example for her and her
family, she sees it as benefiting all of
Indian Country.
“My interest lies in helping the almost
600 Tribal Nations across the country in
addressing the devastating effects of sex
ual assault through the use of community
based participatory research methods,”
said Norton. “Further, I have a respon
sibility to live my life as an example for
Native students and researchers who are
coming up to lay the foundation for their
successful pursuits in higher education. It
is not just for me, or for my family, it is
all my relations that will benefit from the
work I propose to do.”
So as we watch and learn from Lisa
Norton as she moves through the future
helping her people, know that she is fo
cused and driven to be a role model and
her desire to succeed comes from you
- her family, her friends, her community
and her Tribe. And Lisa, despite what
your mom says, get used to being called
Dr. Norton! Aho Lisa!
Eagle Maintains
Watch on
Highway 229
An eagle has appeared
several times atop the same
tree in the last three months
near milepost 10 on High
way 229. The tree affords an
expansive view of hillsides,
pastures, the Siletz River
and people in their cars who
often travel this road.
July 2009
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Siletz News
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