Utilizing The Narrative Below To Discuss Historical Trauma ✓ Solved

Utilizing The Narrative Below Discuss Historical Trauma From The Persp

Discuss historical trauma from the perspective of providing care for Native American children in foster care. A Native American girl named Velma, aged 6, experiences forced removal from her home to attend a government boarding school, as mandated by law. Upon her arrival, Velma is stripped of her cultural identity through various means such as being deloused, having her clothing changed to an ill-fitting dress, and her hair cropped short. She is forbidden to communicate in her native language, causing further disconnection from her identity. The repetitive cycle of being sent back home and forcibly returned to the boarding school continues until she resigns to her situation. After 8 years, Velma returns home, a stranger to her own community, unable to assimilate fully into any culture.

Paper For Above Instructions

Historical trauma among Native American populations significantly affects children in foster care, especially through the narrative of Velma’s experience in a government boarding school. This traumatic experience serves as a historical framework to understand the contemporary struggles faced by Native American children, particularly in the context of cultural identity and psychological well-being.

Understanding Historical Trauma

Historical trauma refers to the cumulative emotional and psychological wounds suffered by a group over generations, often due to systematic oppression and cultural dislocation. For Native Americans, this trauma is rooted in centuries of colonization, assimilation policies, and the boarding school era, where Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families to eradicate their cultural identity. This historical context is crucial for understanding the current plight of Native American children in foster care, as many carry the weight of this trauma.

The Case of Velma

In Velma’s story, her experience begins with the traumatic removal from her familial home, a method that serves to disrupt the foundational bonds within Indigenous communities. The government's boarding school policy aimed to assimilate Native children by enforcing English language use and eliminating Indigenous practices. Velma's initial emotional outcry symbolizes the natural reaction to trauma—the fear of loss, disconnection, and a struggle for identity. Each attempt to escape represents not just her desire to return home, but a profound fight against being stripped of her identity.

Impact of Boarding Schools on Cultural Identity

The boarding school system was implemented with the intention of “civilizing” Native children, but instead caused irreparable harm. According to Brave Heart (2003), these experiences lead to a sense of alienation and cultural disconnection that reverberates through generations. Velma, after her years in the boarding school, returns to her community estranged from her cultural roots. She embodies the loss faced by many Native Americans—being unable to fit into either the White community or her own Native community, reflecting an identity crisis that affects Native children in and out of foster care today.

Contemporary Implications for Native American Children in Foster Care

Currently, many Native American children are placed in foster care due to the impacts of historical trauma, poverty, and systemic issues of social injustice. The experiences of removal echo those of Velma, with many children facing similar disconnections. The importance of culturally appropriate care becomes evident, as children benefit from maintaining their cultural ties. For instance, access to cultural education and identity-building activities can provide a buffer against the trauma they may experience.

Healing Historical Trauma

Addressing historical trauma involves acknowledging the past and its lingering effects on current generations. Holistic approaches, including trauma-informed care and culturally relevant practices, have shown promise in healing processes for Native American children. Counselors and social workers must integrate understanding of historical trauma into their practices, ensuring that Native children in foster care receive care that respects and promotes their cultural identity (Duran, 2006).

Role of Foster Care Systems

Foster care systems need to prioritize the cultural connections of Native children. Empowering tribal communities to participate in the care and placement of these children can enhance their well-being and sense of belonging. Involving Native American families in decision-making processes fosters a supportive environment that can heal the wounds of historical trauma and reaffirm cultural identity (Kirk, 2017).

Conclusion

The narrative of Velma serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting impacts of historical trauma on Native American children in foster care. Acknowledging this trauma not only allows for a deeper understanding of the challenges these children face but also emphasizes the need for culturally affirming care that honors their heritage and promotes healing. Society must confront the effects of historical injustices to create a supportive environment for Native children, ultimately enabling them to reclaim their identities and cultural heritage.

References

• Brave Heart, M. Y. H. (2003). The historical trauma response among natives and its relationship with substance abuse: A 12-year retrospective study of the Lakota youth. The American Indian Alaskan Native Mental Health Research, 11(1), 1-21.
• Duran, E. (2006). Healing the American Indian psyche: The role of culture in healing interventions. American Indian Culture and Research Journal, 30(2), 47-70.
• Kirk, S. A. (2017). The role of cultural identity in educational success. Journal of American Indian Education, 56(1), 1-14.
• Gone, J. P. (2013). A community-based approach to mental health services for American Indians: Introduction to the special issue. American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research, 20(1), 1-15.
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• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 15-4923.
• Brave Heart, M. Y. H., & DeBruyn, L. M. (1998). The American Indian Holocaust: Healing historical unresolved grief. American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research, 8(2), 56-78.