Alton J (Sonny) Smart

Professor Emeritus (1990 – 2020)

Sociology & Social Work Department

UW – Stevens Point

Research Areas:

American Indian family systems using a cultural paradigm as the model for assessment
Using a culturally developed parenting model “Family Circles” as a model for working with tribal families and communities
Assessing cultural parenting styles from “traditional to Acculturated boarding school behaviors
Cultural leadership styles and supervision
Minobimaadiziwin: What is good Indian Mental Health?

Education and Bio Information

Alton “Sonny” Smart is an Anishsiabe educator who occupies many roles in native and nonnative communities. He is first and foremost a grandfather, father, husband, son, uncle, and grandson. He is a Tribal Judge; a United States Army (Airborne) Vietnam Veteran; He holds positions on Ojibwa ceremonial Big Drum and Midewiwin medicine societies. He is a member of the Band River Band of Chippewa of Wisconsin, where he was born into the Fish Clan. His spiritual names of Ozaawa ana-quad (Yellow Cloud) and later a Menominee tribal name of Notnowgiishick (Center Sky), when he was adopted into a Menominee Tribal Family

He is currently Professor Emeritus of Social work at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. (1990-2020) Where he coordinated the Native American Rural & Social Work program and Native American Family Institute. He served as Program director of the department Social Work program. 2010-15. He taught courses in Native American Social work, child Welfare, Problems in Family Interaction, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, and other social work courses. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work, sociology and has post-graduate training in Family Therapy. He is state certified as a third-party therapist in individual, family and group therapy. He has served as an expert witness in many Indian Child welfare cases and has done numerous cultural assessments in such cases.

He has worked for various Wisconsin Tribes in many capacities, such as clinical social worker, director of alcohol and drug prevention, in-home family therapist, director of family and counseling services, high school guidance counselor, school cultural specialist, health careers recruiter. He served in the United States Army Airborne field medic in Vietnam and Germany. He has served as a Tribal Judge for the Bad River Band since 1985 where he is currently Senior Associate Tribal Judge. (simi-retired)

He currently does consultant work and training in the areas of tribal mental health, Indian child welfare, treatment modalities in working with tribal families, alcohol and drug intervention and prevention, cultural parenting programs, Indian education and cultural teaching styles, community and program development, Peacemaking in tribal courts

He has done work in the areas of tribal leadership development and supervision. He has provided training to tribal, state, federal and private social service and educational agencies and organizations throughout the Midwest regional and national levels. He has done training in cultural sensitivity and cultural competency. He has developed assessment tools to assist in evaluating child welfare and counseling tribal clients.

He conceptualized and co-authored the Family Circles Woodland Parenting manual using Ojibwe cultural paradigm as the main learning paradigm. He currently works with the Lac Du Flambeau community in revitalizing the Family circles model as a consultant working with tribal families.

He just recently provided cultural in-depth narration history for the just released documentary “Bad River”, which premiered in theaters across the country March 13^th, 2024, and is currently available in various streaming formats.

He produced an in-depth series of Ojibwe language CDs with Larry “Amik” Smallwood He currently conducts cultural teachings and presentations on “What is good Indian Mental Health”. Using Ojibway Minobimaadiziwin philosophy: living and maintaining balance.

Sonny has a unique style of blending his cultural knowledge and heritage with the western paradigm of helping. He is able to help bridge the gap between the two worlds in a humorous and non-threatening way through his use of cultural stories of song and dance and life stories of his Anishinabe people.

He has been attending and dancing at powwows through out the country for over 40 years in traditional Woodland and grass dance categories as well as serving as head judge, head Veteran and Arena Director and Master of Ceremonies.

Presentation Titles:

Cultural considerations in adopting Native American children: manifest and latent consequences

Adult adopted children: responses of those who decide to return to tribal communities and the communities’ cultural responses to the new returnees

Intertribal Socio-Cultural generational changes to tribal families through the boarding school eras.

The effects of Indian Child Welfare Act on tribal social welfare systems and Tribal courts

Cultural resilience in assessing and treatment interventions with tribal family’s exposure to intergenerational trauma. The basis for healing of past trauma.

What is Good Indian Mental Health? In asking this question, this presentation looks at a cultural paradigm of teachings and way of life as the foundation for natural mental health among tribal people.

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