An Exploration of Historical Trauma

Among Indigenous Peoples of North America

Introduction
The phrase historical trauma was first defined by Lakota researcher Brave Heart (1999) as a wounding
that persists across generations as a result of trauma experienced by that group. In the case of the
Indigenous peoples of North America, this definition refers to how centuries of massacres, wars, forced
removals from land, experiences in boarding schools, and other forms of oppression have resulted in trauma
that is still experienced today. This trauma manifests as Indigenous peoples experiencing rates of mental
illness more than four times higher than those of the general population, Indigenous children and
adolescents reporting rates of depression higher than those of any other racial or ethnic group, and
Indigenous peoples between the ages of 10 and 34 experiencing suicide as their second leading cause of
death (American Psychiatric Association, 2017). To not address these real and harmful consequences of
historical trauma is to accept and participate in colonialism's legacy. For that reason, a greater understanding
of it among non-Indigenous populations in necessary.
https://www.edi.nih.gov/blog/communities/transcending-historical-trauma
Miranda A. Ulses
Loras College
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Lisa Grinde What can aid Indigenous communities in
healing from historical trauma?
Look to Indigenous ways of healing: When non-Indigenous populations seek to create
treatment plans, they often begin with existing EBTS and then test for cross cultural
significance. Researchers attempted to reverse this process by interviewing participants
affiliated with an Indigenous substance abuse treatment center and then beginning with what
was learned about Indigenous ways of healing. They determined that Indigenous healing
should not be according to a DSM diagnosis but according to the symptoms the person
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/dakot
experiences and how those are contextualized in the history of colonialism and oppression,
a/dakota.html
that holistic healing should be prioritized over specific treatment plans, and that types of
treatment should not be discounted simply because they are not empirically supported by
Western psychology (Gone, 2009).

Use a treatment that accounts for the unique experiences of Indigenous communities:
How is historical trauma studied and conceptualized? Brave Heart et al. (2020) created the Unresolved Grief Intervention (HTUG). HTUG is a 4 step
SCALES: Historical Loss Scale and Historical Loss Associated Symptoms Scale (Whitbeck et al., 2004). process that involves learning to understand the trauma, releasing the pain of the trauma
SKEPTICISM: Studies of historical trauma must account for and respect Indigenous skepticism of research caused by a history of unethical through the culture’s activities and ceremonies, teaching to transcend the trauma, and
studies involving Indigenous populations (Hill et al., 2010; Cochran et al., 2008). reclaiming and embracing one’s history. Indigenous participants who were treated with HTUG
https://www.alaskapublic.org/2016/02/05/ demonstrated greater group engagement and retention than those treated with traditional IPT.
WAYS OF KNOWING: Studies should incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing into research, which give great importance to unseen historical-trauma/
powers, interconnectedness, relationships, the environment, and traditions (Levac et al., 2018).
ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES: A systematic review found a positive correlation between experience of historical trauma and increased Use cultural revitalization as a tool for healing: The Myaamia Center at Miami University in
substance use, depressive symptoms, anxiety, PTSD, and suicide attempts and ideations (Gone et al., 2019). Ohio was created to promote revitalization of Miami language and culture. A study of Miami
EPIGENETICS: Researchers have considered a biological explanation for historical trauma in which the trauma causes epigenetic college students found that those who participated in the center displayed stronger grades, a
modifications that are passed down (Conchin & Thayer, 2019). greater sense of belonging, stronger connections to their Miami identity, and increased
language use and tribal participation (Shea et al., 2019).
https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/ne
braska-paperback/9780803279575/
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/15/la
ngguth.trail.of.tears/index.html

How is historical trauma experienced through the lifespan?

Children
Unresolved grief/anger and distrust
Conclusion
In just the past few centuries, Indigenous peoples in North American have been subject to uncountable acts of violence. They
• Interviews of service providers working with Indigenous children revealed themes of grief caused by both experienced and historical losses as well as a distrust
have been forced to leave their lands and march to inhospitable lands in perilous conditions. They have had their ecosystems,
of authority figures (Nicolai & Saus, 2013).
languages, cultures, spiritual practices, and traditions taken from them. They have been forced into labor, wars, boarding schools,
Adolescents and sterilization. They have been intentionally and cold-bloodedly murdered. Most of these acts of violence are no longer
Harmful coping mechanisms and increased anxiety committed today. But, that does not mean Indigenous peoples are free of them. Much of the population chooses to forget or ignore
• A study of Indigenous youths receiving treatment for a mental health disorder found that 70% reported drinking alcohol and 50% using marijuana (Dickerson & the violence, but unable to speak their languages, live on their native lands, and practice their traditions, the Indigenous peoples
Johnson, 2012). have struggled to heal. They have become trapped in cycles of violence and grief in the form of historical trauma.
• A report by the HHS (2015) found that Indigenous people are diagnosed with STDs at rates higher than the general population. Historical trauma, while not widely understood by the general population, has attracted the attention of the psychological
• A study of Indigenous youths found a positive correlation between thoughts of historical losses and symptoms of anxiety (Armenta et al., 2016). research community. Researchers created standardized scales to measure and explain historical trauma. They explored specific
consequences of historical trauma for children, adolescents, young adults, and Indigenous elders. They sought to determine
College students factors that may protect against historical trauma and find culturally appropriate ways to aid in healing. However, if awareness of
Thinking of historical losses and depressive symptoms this research does not extend outside of the research communities, the violence will continue. The non-Indigenous population will
• A study of Indigenous college students found that despite being farther removed from tribal life, thoughts of losses of spiritual ways, culture, language, and remain ignorant and will continue to perpetuate the violence. This cannot continue. Indigenous peoples deserve to be seen, heard,
losses due to alcoholism were common. These thoughts were also positively correlated with depressive symptoms (Tucker et al., 2016). respected, and healed, and in order for this to happen, research on historical trauma, its causes, and its consequences must be
Elders more widely disseminated. Children must be taught of it in schools. Health care providers must learn about it in their trainings and
Trauma as a life theme and witnessing effects on communities use it while practicing. Literature, art, and museums must welcome it as an important theme to be presented. Governing bodies
• In conversational interviews, Lakota elders repeatedly discussed the role of trauma despite not being asked questions designed to illicit a trauma response (Dennis, must design laws and policies with respect to it. And, the people and institutions with any role in creating the trauma must raise
2016). awareness by very publicly apologizing. Research has established the reality and severity of historical trauma, and now the
• Also in interviews, Indigenous elders reflected on witnessing the effects of historical trauma on their communities. They reported noticing tendencies to abuse research must be disseminated into all levels of society.
substances and food, loss of culture and language, and lack of harmony within and between tribes (Grayshield et al., 2015).

What characteristics can protect against historical trauma? References

Group identification
Awareness of historical losses
A study of Iraqi Kurds– a group that
A study of Indigenous tribal members
experienced similar traumas to the
with self-identified substance use
Indigenous peoples of North America–
problems found that those who thought
evaluated the relationship between
more about their historical losses had
group identification and experience of
more days of refraining from substance
historical trauma for college students.
use, fewer days of substance use, and
The researchers found that the students
for those whose substance was alcohol,
who thought more about their historical
an average of fewer drinks per days. In
losses displayed more severe mental
the study, substance use was evaluated
health problems, but strength of
using the Timeline Followback, and
identification with one Kurdish group
historical thoughts were measured on
weakened that correlation and lessened
the HLS and HLASS (Gameon &
overall experience of trauma symptoms
Skewes, 2021).
(Skrodzka et al., 2021).
Sense of Coherence
Researchers found a negative correlation
between sense of coherence– being able
to understand, order, and find meaning in
stressors– and experience of historical
trauma. By asking Indigenous youths to
draw a stressful situation and how they
would cope with it and then interviewing
the youths, researchers found that the
youths who coped in ways related to sense
of coherence– finding meaning through
family, culture, and community–
experienced less negative affects of
historical trauma (Evans & Davis, 2018).
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