November is National Native American Heritage Month. I have always felt a special kinship for Native Americans. As African Americans we share a similar history of historical trauma at the hands of Europeans who migrated to the new world. Both cultures are resilient. In this post I highlight some lessons learned from Native American Communities about recovery.
The importance of massive group mobilization. In order to heal historical trauma, which is a root cause of addiction, Dr. Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart speaks of the importance of the entire community/tribe coming together and openly talking about what happened to us! This includes grieving together, crying together, mourning together. I have heard some Native Americans call Columbus Day and July 4th, national days of mourning. I foresee a day when entire African American communities have similar mobilizations in order to heal historical trauma.
The importance of returning to culture. Historically, Native Americans had their culture taken away as a part of historical trauma. One way this was accomplished was by removing Native American Children from reservations and placing them in boarding schools. Trauma along with loss of culture contribute to high rates of substance use disorders. We are learning from the White Bison, Native American Wellbriety Movement that a return to culture can increase recovery rates. Increasingly, African Americans in recovery are taking journeys to Africa as a part of their own recovery and are returning to the United States and creating culturally specific recovery programs, based in African cultural rites of passages.
Advocacy for reparation. In 1978 Native Americans took a case to the Supreme Court and the American Indian Freedom of Religious Act was passed. This law protected their rights to exercise tribal religions, possess sacred objects and the freedom to worship through traditional ceremonials and traditional rites. This success played a role in return to culture and eventual reparations received by Native American Tribes. Reparation can be used to protect culture and promote healing. One lesson I learned is how quietly Native Americans went about fighting for reparations. I think about this every time I see an African American Town Hall meeting featuring speakers such as Tavis Smiley, Dr. Cornell West, Jesse Jackson Sr etc. broadcasting to the whole world on television advocacy plans before executing the plans, while those who oppose the plan and those who will come up with schemes to block the plans are part of the listening audience.
Happy National Native American Heritage Month. Wishing you years of Wellbriety!