“This has been a really good talk on some of the variables related to/associated with the negative holistic health and wellness impacts of historical trauma upon BIPOC Communities. This a great intro-segue into the much larger dialogue of deconstructing and healing from ‘The Conditioning’ we all knowingly or unknowingly are experiencing. Thank you for your service,” remarked one attendant during PACEs Connections’ recent Historical Trauma in the American Northwest event.
Facilitated by Ingrid Cockhren (PACEs Connection’s Chief Executive Officer) and Dr. Donielle Prince (former Director of State Initiatives with PACEs Connection), this January 2023 event was the most recent session in the Historical Trauma in America Series and focused specifically on historical trauma in the Northwest United States. PACEs Connection’s Historical Trauma in America Series examines the impact of intergenerational trauma on the health and well-being of individuals today and is made possible by funding from St. David’s Foundation.
Historical trauma—another term for intergenerational trauma—is defined by Dr. Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart as multigenerational trauma experienced by a specific cultural group resulting in “a cumulative emotional and psychological wounding over the lifespan and across generations, emanating from massive group trauma.”
Current research in positive and adverse childhood (PACEs) science continues to underscore the significant impact that historical trauma has on the health and wellbeing of society today. Interest in this topic was evidenced by the comments and questions submitted by event attendees, including the following:
- Andrea Noble: “Our education system underplays the importance of history--without learning history, we lack the context the make truly effective progress.”
- Paulette Paglia: “I am grateful to learn this history. It's very important and should be mandatory for all Americans. It makes me very sad because while great progress has been made. The atmosphere in the U.S. is still extremely unfair and terrifying imo. The trauma is real and ongoing.”
- Kimela: ““As a counselor working with a diverse marginalized population. I have been very concerned about emotional isolation with my patients and how to train future counselors of this component. What strategies would you use to address this when working with BIPOC folks?”
- Laural Hong: “There's a great difference between which histories are taught and which are left unmentioned.”
The following are a few examples of the topics covered by PACEs Connection’s staff:
- Overview of the series, including a review of the concepts of collective trauma, intergenerational transmission of trauma, and historical trauma, featuring the RYSE Center’s infographic on Interacting Layers of Trauma and Healing framework.
- Understanding Historical Trauma and Native Americans in the Northwest
- Historical Trauma and African Americans in the Northwest
- Reality of Anti-Blackness in the Northwest
- Historical trauma and Asian-American and Pacific Islander Communities in the American Northwest
Here are examples of some of the resources from PACEs Connection Staff:
- Understanding Historical Trauma and Native Americans by Native Hope
- The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkers
Finally, below are several examples of some of the resources shared from participants:
- Gigi Peterson: Injustice Never Leaves You by Monica Muñoz Martinez
- Katherine Bloton: Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s, Gimlet Media, a Spotify Original
PACEs Connection's Race & Equity Workgroup launched this series to educate and empower people to take action to mitigate the adverse impact of historical trauma, and to promote resilience in each region of the United States. This is the second year of the popular series.
Register now for future regional sessions, including the next session on Historical Trauma in the American Southwest on March 16, 2023. Click HERE to register.
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