Causes And Effects Of Historical Trauma In Native American Communities

Particularly, the long-term emotional trauma caused to the Indigenous community is traced back through the dark history of many

    The mental struggles trauma that the Natives went through has marginalized them. In The Indian Diaries, an article explains how historical trauma may be the reason of today’s health crisis. It states, “A lot of our children that we see, for example, have been through not only one trauma but often multiple traumas in their life, in terms of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect...We look at what has happened to their parents, or what has happened to their grandparents, or their

Through callous developmentalism, European colonists brought about multiple forms of violence which had not existed previously in Aboriginal communities. In post-genocidal settings, talk of trauma is ubiquitous. (Citation 2 Genocide). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is present in nearly all residential school survivors; the number of First Nations people who suffer from PTSD is far higher than the widely publicized PTSD rates in the Canadian military. The Journal of Aboriginal Health published research in 2009 which showed a study on British Columbia residential school survivors with 64% of survivors having PTSD. Many believe these rates are far higher in some First Nation communities. A high contrast is seen through studies that compare the Canadian military PTSD rates with PTSD rates in Aboriginal communities. While between 2% and 10% of Canadian soldiers suffer from this disorder, it is believed that up to 90% of Aboriginal people are afflicted with PTSD (Citation 3 Vancouver Sun). Aboriginal people who experience PTSD experience it because of the horrible way in which they were treated. The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council has done a vast study based on the effects that residential schools have on their people. From a total of 96 people surveyed, the council found that 30% to 83% of people indicate that they were victims of abuse, and over half specified that they maintain some

How can trauma on specific clients can be reduce by implementing example of this is the Alaska native (ACE) which is adverse childhood Experiences .This is inclusion program is for Trauma Informed services. The study consist of the relationship of Adverse Childhood Experiences to adult health (Hochman, 2017)

The newly acquired ideas were implemented in various Native American programs to improve the mental/physical health of all Native Americans. Most programs, however, base their ongoing work on four key concepts. . (Beal et al 2005) They are analyzing how alcohol and drugs affect the immediate family unit as well as how it affects relatives and friends physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What, if any of these affects are being carried down from one generation to another. Does alcohol set off any of the other affects such as drug abuse, mental illness et al? Finally, coming to the carefully scrutinized observation that alcoholism often co-exists in Indian communities with certain definite other problems like depression, self-hate, cultural shame, and stress-related acting out or inappropriate misconduct. (NADC 2011)These four main ideas are still used today to further identify and improve mental health conditions among the Native Americans.

The Removal Act of 1830, that forced the Cherokee Indians from their homelands with just the clothes on their backs have created tragic effects which have continued to be passed down from generation to generation, causing a near loss of the Cherokee culture. In 1838, the United States Military utilizing surprise attacks, snatched Cherokee families from their homes, work, and play at bayonet point to face a journey of over a thousand treacherous miles known as the “Trail of Tears” to unprepared land. The Cherokee faced great personal loss that caused a lasting impact on their lives as they were forced to live on new Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma (Wallace 1993). As a result of the brutal forced removal of the Cherokee Indians they now face tragic psychological and emotional problems. Cherokee families today face self-destructive behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse, physical and sexual abuse, and the inability to express feelings and maintain healthy relationships due to the unresolved anger they have towards the loss of their land and culture (Wallace 1993).The Cherokee people fought against the Army of the United States and lost, but their loss is now our collective loss as the numbers of Cherokee people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are rising throughout the Cherokee culture.

It is no secret that the Native American and Alaska Native (NA/AN) population is one of the most overlooked and underserved communities in America. The physical health disparities that plague NA/ANs (diabetes, tuberculosis, obesity, etc) are well-documented.1 However, less data is readily available on the mental health challenges that NA/AN populations face. Recent news has highlighted the pressing need to study these issues, especially in light of the spike in suicides among youth occurring on NA/AN reservations.2 Furthermore, even less information is available with regards to NA/AN children and the mental health disparities they face, although more literature has been published in the last two decades that provide new insights into this issue.3

The Jewish Holocaust is remembered and learned about every year in school. During this holocaust, six million people were killed. However, the Native American Genocide resulted in over one hundred-twenty million deaths. This tragedy is only briefly summarized. When Christopher Columbus, “the discoverer of the Americas,” claimed the land in 1492 on his quest for gold and silver, the fact that millions of people already lived in the area was not considered. It is estimated that fifteen million people, which Columbus had rudely referred to as “Indians,” lived north of current day Mexico at the time of his arrival. Three hundred-fifty years later, this number was reduced to less than one million (Mercier). The Native

Due to various socio-cultural factors that impede First Nations/Native Americans’ usage of mental health programs and services, their particular needs and characteristics will influence the way assessments, goal setting, and interventions will be utilized when working with a First Nations client. For example, Grayshield, et al., (2015), discuss the historical trauma that Native Americans/First Nations populations have experienced here in the United States. This includes prohibiting Native Americans/First Nation individuals from speaking their language and practicing their spiritual and cultural traditions. Historical trauma also includes the impact of Native Americans/First Nations children being sent to boarding schools and away from their families and cultural traditions. By forcing Native Americans/First Nations communities to assimilate, this caused trauma their mental health and that can also be seen in present time.

Native American people have a unique struggle in society. This stems from cultural epidemics like drug addiction, alcoholism, poverty, obesity, and rampant suicide, but also systemic racism and cultural lag (Flores 1999; Greenfield, Cocking 2014; Sarche, Spicer 2008;). This is not a critique of culture, just an observation of the condition of the families I have helped serve over the course of this internship. To be “Native” carries with it a slew of stereotypical representations (Gay 2002; Mihesuah 2009). Stereotypes do not represent reality, but they do affect one’s social standing (Gay 2002). More than that, stereotypes alter how individuals view themselves, and limit their ability to become something other than the stereotype (Gay 2002; Mihesuah 2009). And the cycle goes on and on. If Native American children grow up in a closed network, such as a reservation, the reality is brutal (Mihesuah 2009). Drug abuse, domestic abuse, alcoholism, and the like are everywhere. These things that seem so horrible and extraordinary are commonplace and normalized. That doesn’t mean that all Native Americans are addicts or alcoholics—they aren’t, it’s just the prevailing narrative (Mihesuah 2009). Natives are exposed to a very euro-centric cultural perspective of Native Americans, and this is usually in the historical sense (Mihesuah 2009). The dominant culture tells Native children that they exist only in the past, and teaches them that they have limited avenues (Mihesuah 2009;

Poverty and addiction damage the Native American's mental health as they suffer from abuse, addiction, and high self-harm; because they experience abuse, they develop addictions and unfortunately have to cope with self-harm and suicide. High rates of self-harming is an outcome for the Native American’s because of the poverty and addiction that they are forced to cope with. The poverty Native Americans struggle with determines their emotions; they lack self-esteem and therefore believe they are “stupid and ugly” (Alexie 22). This lack of self-esteem affects their motivation, which then limits their ability to earn money, making them even more poverty-stricken. One source claims that many Native Americans start “cutting themselves at the age

The past oppression by the United States, their continuing poor socioeconomic status of the present, and the cross-generational historical trauma have caused the Native Americans to develop several mental illnesses including depression.

Historical trauma, as Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart expressed, is being carried on the genes of Native people without being notice, is something heavy that cause pain and unconformity that it is slowly killing them. As the article refer that historical trauma is “the cumulative emotional and psychological wounding, over the lifespan and across generations, emanating from massive group trauma experiences.” Meaning that the things that happen in the past are still hurting people now, and it needs a great attention and cultural focus. It is really important to show a true respect to Native American culture, so it will be able to accurately help Native Americans from the roots of the problem. A lot of people will argue that what happen to the Native American community happened long time ago, but according to this article, Healing the American Indian Soul Wound, actually is something that kept on happening not so long ago, for example, “it was only in 1994 that native peoples were allowed to practice some forms of religion without fear of reprisal by state and federal government policies” (p. 345). It is surprising that this was still happening in 1994, which is so recent, and it shows a lot of immaturity from the government on the topic of respecting others as human beings. I actually argue with people that cultural genocide over Native Americans is something that I will not doubt is still happening now. I have a strong belief that

“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.” - Peter A. Levine, Ph.D. In Sherman Alexie’s collection of short stories, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, we read stories of Native American struggles for survival in an American society designed to keep Native Americans locked in the cycle of intergenerational trauma. Alexie illustrates the importance of rejecting intergenerational trauma as a method of survival, by isolating the two main causes intergenerational trauma becomes inescapable and giving examples that showcase the impact of attempting to survive the cycle. Through the interpretation of multiple sources, it becomes clear that the inescapability of intergenerational trauma is the outcome of internalized oppression and pessimism.

When thinking about the word trauma, what comes to mind is a deeply, distressing or disturbing experience. According to Dr. Maria YellowHorse-BraveHeart (2003): “Cumulative emotional and psychological wounding over the lifespan and across generations, emanating from massive group trauma.” These effects have changed how Native Americans have been treated in the past and how they are dealing with historic trauma now. Even though this is the seventh generation, our communities are suffering.