“A black-cloaked nun cut my hair. I felt naked as my braids fell to the floor. Stripped of my warm parka, I was made to wear a thin pinafore and scratchy underwear, with stockings too small to stay above my knees.” Illustration from “When I was eight” by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. Art by Gabrielle Grimard
Historical Trauma seminar to be held at NIEA Conference
By Karin Eagle
Native Sun News Staff Writer RAPID CITY- According to Dr. Maria Yellow Horse Braveheart, PhD, Hunkpapa, who conceptualized historical trauma in the 1980's, it is necessary to develop stronger understanding of why life for many Native Americans is not fulfilling "the American Dream." She has sought to establish a collaboration of community advocates, allies, teachers, and students of historical trauma towards a stronger understanding of unresolved historical grief. One of the points that Brave Heart wants to make is that historical trauma is the collective emotional and psychological injury both over the life span and across generations, resulting from a cataclysmic history of genocide. The effects of historical trauma include: unsettled emotional trauma, depression, high mortality rates, high rates of alcohol abuse, significant problems of child abuse and domestic violence. (historicaltrauma.com). Historical unresolved grief is the grief that accompanies the trauma. The historical trauma response is a constellation of features in reaction to massive group trauma. This response is observed among Lakota and other Native populations, Jewish Holocaust survivors and descendants, Japanese American internment camp survivors and descendants. There are 583 federally recognized tribes where the impact of historical trauma has been identified as suffering at varying degrees. A recently announced two day workshop offers a broader understanding of how historical trauma has impacted Lakota and indigenous peoples and how we can integrate healing from historical trauma into our families, schools, programs and communities. The Oyate Woakipa Ta Woospe Historical Trauma: Impact and Healing Conference is scheduled during the Black Hills Powwow on October 11-12, 2013 Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn, Rapid City. Presenters include Hmuya Mani (Richard Two Dogs,), and Dr. Brave Heart with others to be announced. “Our purpose is to heal from the historical unresolved grief that many indigenous individuals and communities are struggling with.” Said Brave Heart through historicaltrauma.com. “We offer to you an opportunity to learn or to share your learning of historical trauma prevention, intervention, healing, and experiences. Research of the historical trauma intervention approach has shown significant reduction in anger, sadness, guilt, and shame. A number of excellent Native American researchers have begun conducting strong research and teaching that is beginning to create a more unified approach towards healing. The conference is being presented by the Mila Yatan Pika Pte Oyate Okolakiciye, or Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Organization. For registration information you can access the forms and attendance fees at knifechiefbuffalonation@gmail.com, or by phone at (605) 441-2914. Their website is www.knifechiefbuffalonation.org. (Contact Karin Eagle at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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