During "Sharing One Skin", Armstrong went over the 4 selves of her Okanagan people. The physical self is important, as that is our bodies, and the spiritual self is the living source of our life. Then she also went over some differences between the Okanagan perception and the dominant culture. Some examples of this are when she talked about the language and the land and hands of the spirit. Overall, she talked about how we as humans also have a “larger self” which is more spiritual, and we go through life with that and our individual self. Another key she mentions is family/community; having others around you is so important. She says, “without community and family we are truly not human.” (p.464) Which means no person is born isolated from those two things.

Joe Suina talks about his relationship with his grandmother throughout "And Then I Went to School", by connecting her with his Pueblo and culture. He said a lot about how going to the boarding school affected him. He felt as if he had to give up a part of himself to take in this new world that was being forced upon him. I think it's very unfortunate and sad that many Natives had to go through the trauma of Boarding Schools, because like stated on the last page, “There was no choice left but to compete with the white man.” They had no choice.

For the Toastie Article, they talk about how there’s a difference between the way Native people view the landscapes vs. non-Natives. The non-Natives mostly name their places after bad men, such as presidents and conquistadors. “Repeating colonizers’ names keeps the trauma of dispossession fresh.” (P.5) They also speak on all the significance Natives have with the land. Because of all this, we can’t always know what stories belong to the landscapes and its indigenous peoples. But we do know, according to page 2, “They’re really telling us about ourselves and our past.” The stories bring us a sense of belonging.

I watched a YouTube video called "Understanding Intergenerational Trauma". It first talked about how Natives were doing fine in life because they were where we belong, and with the people who belong with them. But then, colonizers came, and something they did was take away many young Indigenous children to Boarding Schools. Here, they lost their cultures, and very bad things happened to them. These people still have not healed yet, making this called intergenerational trauma. And we still see this trauma today. 

The basic history of "Art Therapy" was created by Margaret Naumberg in the late 1930’s. Its purpose was to help people with developmental, medical, educational, social, or psychological problems. There are 2 different poles of it; art psychotherapy & art as therapy. This can overall be used in different ways, alone or with a team. These teams could be people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and who have any one of a number of psychological and emotional disorders. 

As Native Americans, we suffer so much with our mental health. One of the reasons is behavioral health, many Natives suffer with substance abuse because of this negative behavior. Which brings me to my next reason for substance abuse; we have the highest rate of drug overdoses. Along with death, Natives have the highest rate for it, usually from unintentional injuries and suicide. Something else that had a severe impact was the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, there were increased rates from suicide, especially among young Natives. Lastly, Natives may feel defensive or resentful because of the way our people were once treated. Even in the present-day, this could contribute to depression. However, the use of traditional Native American healing techniques should be used along with Western healing. The use of both of these can be extremely helpful to mental health.

Art therapy is still pretty new to the Arab World as it originated in the west, meaning more studies are needed. The Arab World addresses medicine and psychotherapy differently because they cannot violate any cultural norms. So, their services must address the individuals local traditions and sociocultural perspectives, and those of their families, extended families, communities, and tribe. White art therapy utilizes nonverbal expression as a means of communication which benefits individuals from traditional and collectivistic societies, its still novel in the Arab World. Art was described as a productive way to unmask emotions without violating their sociocultural needs. 

Art can be a catalyst for social change. From protest art to socially engaged projects, artists use their platforms to highlight injustices and advocate for change. The art industry significantly contributes to the economy through various channels. Art galleries, museums, and cultural events attract tourism, which generates revenue and creates jobs. Murals, sculptures, and installations enrich urban landscapes, making them more inviting and reflective of the communities character. Art will continue to be extremely important in the future of our world. Digital art, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence (AI) are expanding the possibilities for creative expression. 

In Asia, art has been used to convey the traditions, beliefs, and values of diverse cultures for centuries. Art has been an important way to express religious beliefs & practices. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity have all played a significant role in shaping the art and culture of Asia. Art has also been used to express political ideologies and to critique the existing power structures in Asian societies. Folk is another important part of their cultures, reflecting the everyday lives of ordinary people. So, this includes traditional crafts, such as pottery, weaving, and embroidery. Also music, storytelling, and folk dance. Contemporary art is current, so in recent decades countries like China, India, Japan, and South Korea have become major players in the global art world. Contemporary artists are creating works that reflect the complex social, political, and economic realities of contemporary Asian societies.