Topic 6 Historical Trauma Research
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Historical Trauma Research: Indigenous People
Stephanie Marcos
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Grand Canyon University
BHS-470-O500: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care
Lara Scott
April 21, 2024 1
Historical Trauma Research: Indigenous People
The article, Historical Trauma Among Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: Concepts, Research, and Clinical Considerations
, defines historical trauma as being a “cumulative emotional and psychological wounding across generations, including the lifespan, which emanates from massive group
trauma
” (Braveheart, et al., 2011, p. 283). The Indigenous People
of the Americas are one of the most profoundly affected groups of people when discussing historical trauma. This paper will discuss the trauma experienced and trauma responses shown by
the Indigenous Peoples, how that trauma affects the Indigenous Peoples of today, the key concepts all cited articles have in common, and how professionals can view the Indigenous Peoples’ plight through the lens of social justice and advocacy. Trauma Experienced and Trauma Response
The arrival of European settlers to North America started a domino effect that resulted in the irrevocable change in the way of life for Natives due to the influx of settlers from Europe. One of the most overwhelmingly devastating problems was the destruction of approximately 95% of the Native American population between the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 and the Revolutionary War in 1776. Not only were many Natives intentionally killed by the settlers, but they brought with them diseases that effectively wiped out a substantial percentage of the Natives because they had no immunity to these diseases. Making matters worse were the laws put in place that stripped the Indigenous peoples of their land (Brown-Rice, 2022). One such law, the Indian Removal Act of 1830, was approved by President Andrew Jackson and forced more than 100,000 native Americans that lived east of the Mississippi to move to either reservations or to more urban areas. This became known as the Trail of Tears. The forced relocations caused a massive decline in socioeconomic status of the Indigenous peoples due to 2
the stark difference in the way they lived compared to the way Europeans lived. There were many laws that were put into effect that were intended to force the Indigenous peoples to assimilate to the European- American culture and abandon their own traditions. One such law made Native burial customs illegal. This law went into effect in 1883 and remained in effect law until the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978. Another devastating law passed by the American government was the Civilization Fund Act which spurred the “civilization process”. By 1860, Native American children were being forcibly removed from their homes and placed in American boarding schools where they were forced to take on an “American” name, cut their hair, and change their clothing (Mejia, 2022). This was the most horrific thing the
American government did the Indigenous Peoples. The Native American boarding school era finally ended in 1978 with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Impact of Historical Trauma
The impact of historical trauma is felt today in Native American communities. The literature stresses the prevalence of emotional issues including depression, substance abuse, and alcohol abuse among Native Americans. These are passed down from generation to generation causing historical trauma (Brave Heart, et al., 2011). Brown-Rice finds several areas of concern when discussing the impact of historical trauma (2022). The first area of concern is the societal-
environmental concerns which include domestic violence, physical, and sexual assault. These are
as much as three-and-a-half times more common in the Native American culture. Psychological concerns include seriously increased rates of alcohol consumption and use of illegal drugs. Additionally, suicide rates are more than three times the national average. Physiological concerns
include a reduced life expectancy. The causes of this include increased rates of heart disease, sexually transmitted diseases, and diabetes. All are significantly increased when compared to 3
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other populations. Further complicating the physiological wellbeing of the Native American population is the lack of medical insurance – 72% of Native Americans under the age of sixty-
five are uninsured. This further marginalizes this population by creating a serious financial burden (Brown-Rice, 2022). Walls also refers to the increased rates of diabetes, suicide rates, and
substance abuse (2023). In her article, The Perpetual Influence of Historical Trauma: A Broad Look at Indigenous Families and Communities in Areas Now Called the United States and Canada
, Melissa Walls points to the colonization of European settlers as the catalyst for the generational trauma this population has endured over the years. When viewed parallel to the Holocaust – the first case of historical trauma that was studied on a large scale – the Native Americans suffered similar atrocities including 90% loss of lands, a forced migration of an average of two hundred thirty-nine kilometers to reservations from their homes. She posits that the forced relocation and the later dismissal of the experiences of the Native American people combined with the astronomically long-lasting oppression of the Indigenous Peoples have caused
and continue to cause the problems the Native American people experience (Walls, 2023). Social Justice and Advocacy
In 2024, it seems as though no person should have to fight for racial equality, equitable rights, and representation in government. Unfortunately, Native Americans still must fight for their voices to be heard. The North American Indigenous people have been exposed to extensive adversity including the epidemic rate deaths that have occurred since European colonization due to disease, forced removal, war, abuse, and attempted genocide. The population of Native Americans on American soil prior to the invasion of European colonists numbered in the tens of millions. By 1900, there were only 250,000 left in America. Whole tribes were eradicated, and languages and customs have been lost forever. The twentieth century brought with it a slowed 4
death rate among Indigenous peoples which allowed the population to start to rebuild. With slowly growing numbers, the importance of allies advocating for human rights for the Native American population has become front and center. The UN created the 2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to set up a minimum level of human rights protections both domestically and internationally. Despite all the advocates, there are not enough. Native Americans still struggle with limited access to resources like electricity and water, health facilities, and law enforcement (Zotigh, 2021). Conclusion
To conclude, the Native American population spent hundreds of years being oppressed by European colonists. They were exposed to diseases that annihilated them as well as the intentional murder of countless natives, their land was forcibly taken, and their children systematically abducted and placed in boarding schools. Moving forward, advocates need to step
up and advocates for the rights of the Indigenous Peoples. 5
References
Brave Heart, M. H., Chase, J., Elkins, J., & Altschul, D. (2011). Historical Trauma Among Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: Concepts, Research, and Clinical Considerations.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
,
43
(4), 282–290. https://doi-
org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/02791072.2011.628913
Brown-Rice, K. (2022, July 14). Examining the Theory of Historical Trauma Among Native Americans - The Professional Counselor
. The Professional Counselor - the Official Journal of the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. And Affiliates (NBCC). https://tpcjournal.nbcc.org/examining-the-theory-of-historical-trauma-among-native-
americans/
Mejia, M. (2022, July 26). The U.S. history of Native American Boarding Schools — The Indigenous Foundation
. The Indigenous Foundation. https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/us-residential-schools
Walls, M. (2023). The Perpetual Influence of Historical Trauma: A Broad Look at Indigenous Families and Communities in Areas Now Called the United States and Canada. International Migration Review, 0(0). https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/01979183231218973
Zotigh, D. W. (2021, December 14). Native Rights Are Human Rights
. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2021/12/09/
native-rights-are-human-rights/
6
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It is imperative that a patient has informed consent prior to any treatments or procedures
that can. take place. The client must be fully informed of any risks, benefits, and details of the treatment. “The patient must be competent to make a voluntary decision about whether to undergo the procedure or intervention” (Shah P, 7
Thornton I, Turrin D, et al., 2022). This consent is
legal. document that protects the patient and provider. The patient will give permission to the provider. through this consent that
the provider will give appropriate information pertaining to treatment and what options should be taken for their overall 8
care. Issues of litigation may arise if the provider fails to issue the
proper test results, or treatment procedures. Maintaining proper healthcare boundaries and knowing the state laws prevents providers from malpractice lawsuits.
9
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