What Does It Mean to Heal From Historical Trauma?

AMA J Ethics. 2021 Jun 1;23(6):E494-498. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2021.494.

Abstract

Native American peoples' health is impacted by structural legacies of settler colonialism, including land dispossession, racism, and poverty. Responding with care to individuals and communities experiencing past and present traumatic stress from genocide and deeply entrenched structural violence means navigating ongoing grief, restoring self-community and human-ecological relationships, and generating cultural vibrancy.

MeSH terms

  • Colonialism
  • Historical Trauma*
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American*
  • Poverty
  • Racism*
  • Violence