Identity

Sharing One Skin

The writing “Sharing One Skin” by Jeannette Armstrong she talks about her personal connection to her tribe. She explains how in her tribe's way (the Okanagan) they refer to themselves into 4 parts: the physical self, the emotional self, the thinking intellectual self, and the spiritual self. Each of these parts intertwine with one another and form a tie which creates the Okanagan Identity. One of Armstrong's focuses is on how when you are Okanagan you are automatically born into the community, you belong. This feeds into her next focus of how we as native people are losing touch with ourselves and our community. She refers to this as “people without hearts” which “means people who have lost the capacity to experience the deep generational bond to other humans and to their surroundings. It refers to collective disharmony and alienation from land. It refers to those who are blind to self-destruction, whose emotion is narrowly focused on their individual sense of well-

being without regard to the well-being of others in the collective.”

After reading this piece of writing it made me realize a lot about how I have lost touch with myself and my identity as an Ohkay Owingeh member. It also made me remember how we as native people are all intertwined with one another. I have become so accustomed to the white man's way that I don’t even speak my own language. I don’t pray everyday or feed like I should. I see this all around me with so many people in my community. We are all disconnected and jealous of each other. We are always talking about one another and putting each other down for the stupidest things. I remember asking my cousin “If this pueblo has this tradition that we lost then why can’t they teach us so we can get it back?” He said, “It’s not that easy. They don’t want to help us. They have too much pride to help.” It made me so upset hearing this and made me realize that disconnection Armstrong talks about.

Mander, Jerry, and Victoria Tauli-Corpuz. Paradigm Wars: Indigenous Peoples' Resistance to Globalization. Sierra Club Books, 2006.

Current State of the Issue

Insights Into Connecting With Students Experiencing Trauma: An SLP shares signs of trauma to watch for in children, and strategies to calm and connect with them

In the article, “Insights Into Connecting With Students Experiencing Trauma: An SLP shares signs of trauma to watch for in children, and strategies to calm and connect with them” by Judy Blackburn she talks about her experience with one of her students, Justin, who is a sixth grader. She goes into detail about her struggles of having to work with him and how her usual techniques for working with challenging students never worked on him. She talks about how she conducted a research on reading and language problems associate with trauma and found that “chronic, low-grade stress-- such as an unstable home or witnessing violence- and neglect can affect children as much as a single extreme event.” After gaining knowledge on the effects of trauma on children she was able to eventually help Justin and noticed change within him. Within this article, she also gives tips on how to work with kids like him and she talks about the different ways they react and how they act.

After reading this article, It made me want to do more research on the effects of trauma on children and teens. From experience, I know what it can do to a little kids mind and even a teenagers mind. She mentions that within her study, “behavior can range from externalizing issues, such as hyperactivity and aggression, to internalizing, such as anxiety and depression.” When I was growing up, I suffered from extreme depression and anxiety. As I got older, I started to both internalize and externalize my issues. I had bad anger problems and still suffered from depression and anxiety. I just know that the things I went through and the things I suffered from, I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. Reading this article really shows me how I feel about this topic and how I hope that I can teach people something from my SHP.

Blackburn, Judy. "Insights Into Connecting With Students Experiencing Trauma: An SLP shares signs of trauma to watch for in children, and strategies to calm and connect with them." ASHA Leader, vol. 25, no. 8, 2020, p. 42+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A644559115/AONE?u=nm_p_elportal&sid=AONE&xid=238eec24. Accessed 5 Feb. 2021.

Childhood Trauma Can Lead to Mental Illness

In the article, “Childhood Trauma Can Lead to Mental Illness” by Victor Carrion he talks about the effects of childhood trauma on children and adults. He addresses a research study conducted in San Francisco that showed children who experienced trauma were 10 times more likely to suffer from behavioral or learning problems. The study also showed that 30% of children exposed to dangerous environments showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It was also recognized that physicians would misdiagnose mental disorders within children which would create problems because different disorders require different treatments. After this study was conducted Carrion and his collaborators and other San Francisco community members are working to launch a Center for Youth Wellness. Carrion says, “The Center for Youth Wellness will combine pediatrics with mental health services, educational support, family support, research and best practices in child-abuse response under one roof. With both public and private support, the center will coordinate the services of multiple agencies to give children a safe and accessible place to increase their resilience to adverse life experiences and improve their well-being.”

In this article Carrion really puts in perspective the reason why I chose the topic of childhood trauma and its effects on children. He brings up the fact that children exposed to trauma were 10x more likely to suffer from mental health, behavioral, or learning problems. Recently, my little cousin started to live with us and he has suffered from so much negative experiences in such a small amount of time. I have noticed the learning and behavioral problems within him. I have noticed how differently he reacts to things and how hard it is for him to understand things.

Carrion, Victor. "Childhood Trauma Can Lead to Mental Illness." Mental Illness, edited by Noah Berlatsky, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010154285/OVIC?u=nm_p_elportal&sid=OVIC&xid=e334ca07. Accessed 11 Feb. 2021. Originally published as "Childhood Trauma Linked to Higher Rates of Mental Health Problems and Obesity, Says Stanford/Packard Psychiatrist," Med.stanford.edu, 8 June 2011.

Connections Through History

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

In the article “Alcoholism and Substance Abuse” by Merlene Bishop it talks about the issue of alcoholism in Native Communities and how this issue had begun. She refers back to the 17th century when European settlers first came in contact with native communities. Europeans used alcohol at first as trade with Native Communities. Overtime, alcohol was no longer being consumed by native people but instead consuming native people. Settlers saw this impact and made it illegal to sell or trade alcohol to native communities. In the early 1800’s, the government used alcohol as a tool to “dupe indigenous people out of their lands.” She states, “Many government agents and high-ranking military men “facilitated” the treaty-signing process by exploiting Native Americans with alcohol.” During this time, young native children were stripped from their homes and taken to boarding schools where they were forced to never speak their language or culture. They were brainwashed into thinking that natives were shameful and dirty. This resulted into high numbers of suicide, alcohol abuse, and so much more to escape the grief and pain. She says, “Christian missionaries exacerbated the situation, lobbying Congress to outlaw Native spiritual practices they considered “barbaric.” Without the practice of spiritual ceremonies that formed the basis of their well-being, Indian people became dangerously deprived from a mental-health perspective, enabling addiction.” This article talks about the deeper issue of alcoholism in native communities.

In this article, “Alcoholism and Substance Abuse” by Merlene Bishop it really addresses alcoholism and substance abuse in a deeper sense. When you see someone who suffers from alcoholism or substance abuse, you only see their addiction. You never think about the trauma they faced or the trauma passed down from generations to generations. This article really ties into my topic because it explores the historical side of trauma. It goes back into the 17th and 18th century when Native people were first introduced to these substances and how these substances were used to fool our people. It dates back to the time of boarding schools when our ancestors were stripped from their culture at young ages which resulted to addiction and even suicide to escape the cruel reality. It dates back to the time of genocide when our people were forced into reservations unable to practice their traditions. What no one really talks about is the pain and traumatic experiences passed down into bloodlines, intergenerational trauma. Merlene states, “Inordinately high rates of substance abuse among Native American adolescents has resulted in higher rates of suicide per capita than those among other minorities, fueled as it has been by unresolved cultural grief and poor cultural identity.” There’s so much behind addiction and poor mental health that no one really talks about.

Bishop, Merlene. "Alcoholism and Substance Abuse." The American Mosaic: The American Indian Experience, ABC-CLIO, 2021, americanindian.abc-clio.com.sfis.idm.oclc.org/Search/Display/1385324. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

Blending Aboriginal and Western healing methods to treat intergenerational trauma with substance use disorder in Aboriginal peoples who live in the Northeastern Ontario, Canada

Within the article, “Blending Aboriginal and Western healing methods to treat intergenerational trauma with substance use disorder in Aboriginal peoples who live in Northeastern Ontario, Canada” by Teresa Marsh it addresses the effects of historical trauma and intergenerational trauma on Aboriginal communities in Canada. It states, “ Internalized oppression and neo-colonialism became the hallmark of so many as they expressed hatred toward themselves, their culture, and traditional values and beliefs leading many to later struggle with identity issues.” Marsh expresses, “Haskell and Randall agreed that “this is a very significant finding because it delineates a connection between the use of alcohol as a form of coping or numbing feelings by people attempting to deal with overwhelming current and/or historical traumas” (p. 71). This research concurs with the findings of Whitbeck et al. which stated that the prevalence of substance use disorder, behavioural problems, and depression were approximately two times greater for Aboriginal children aged 10 to 12 years old.”.The article also talks about the use of “Two-Eyed Seeing” which is the combination of western medicine and aboriginal medicine to treat substance use disorders and mental health issues. The article also provides the blending of Western and Aboriginal healing methods through Two-Eyed Seeing, Seeking Safety counselling programs, and the approach of both these methods.

After reading this article, it really put into perspective the effects of historical/intergenerational trauma on Indigenous communities. While reading the article I noticed that Marsh brings up issues that native people try to ignore or they don’t even realize is happening. Nobody talks about how “trauma memories are passed to next generations through different channels, including biological (in hereditary predispositions to PTSD), cultural (through storytelling, culturally sanctioned behaviours), social (through inadequate parenting, lateral violence, acting out of abuse), and psychological (through memory processes) channels.” What I found interesting, is that Aboriginal children from the ages 10-12 are 2x more likely to fall victim to substance abuse, behavioral problems and suicide just because of historical/intergenerational trauma. I think that it is important that we educate ourselves on these topics because it will allow us as native people to grow stronger and get better.

Marsh, Teresa Naseba et al. “Blending Aboriginal and Western healing methods to treat intergenerational trauma with substance use disorder in Aboriginal peoples who live in northeastern Ontario, Canada.” Harm reduction journal vol. 12 14. 20 May. 2015, doi:10.1186/s12954-015-0046-1

Global Connections

Trauma of Australia's Indigenous 'Stolen Generations' Is Still Affecting Children Today

The article, “Trauma of Australia’s Indigenous ‘Stolen Generations’ Is Still Affecting Children Today” by Bianca Nogrady, the author describes how Indigenous children in Australia are being affected by the ‘Stolen Generations’ within their families. The ‘Stolen Generations’ refer to the Indigenous people who were taken from their homes in 1910-1970’s and forced into assimilation to white Australian society. The author explains how “‘Stolen Generations’ and their descendants are far worse off” compared to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people. A study was conducted and showed that children within Australia who lived with a ‘Stolen Generation’ family member were more likely to miss school and be treated unfairly in school. It also showed “Children living in Stolen Generations households were also 1.8 times as likely to have experienced stress in the previous 12 months, and 60% less likely to live in a home owned by a household member.” Nogrady explains, “The report concludes that children living in a Stolen Generations household were more likely to experience adverse outcomes than were other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and that this “demonstrates a transfer of intergenerational poverty and trauma”. This shows how intergenerational is passed on from generations to generations. The racist policies placed back in the 1900’s against aboriginal people have created an on-going line of trauma that is still being left untreated. The author states, “Weston thinks the trauma caused by racist policies such as the forced removal of children is the root cause of the fact that Indigenous Australians, on average, die about ten years earlier than non-Indigenous Australians.” Still till this day, aboriginal children are being taken from their homes and are put into out-of-home care. Yet although they should be placed into extended family care or other aborginal homes, the children are placed into non-indigenous environments.

In the article, “Trauma of Australia’s Indigenous ‘Stolen Generations’ Is Still Affecting Children Today” by Bianca Nogrady the author discusses how Aboriginal children are being affected within their own homes. Many of these children are faced with behavioral problems and drug use and alcohol abuse due to the transfer of intergenerational trauma. I remember when I was first introduced to the idea of intergenerational trauma. It made me realize a lot of the hurt and pain I had carried from the things that my ancestors suffered from. Today within my own community, I see the effects of the trauma passed on from generations. I see how many of our native people have turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the things they have experienced. It's crazy to know how connected we are as Indigenous people.

Nogrady, Bianca. “Trauma of Australia's Indigenous 'Stolen Generations' Is Still Affecting Children Today.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 25 June 2019, www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01948-3.