Resilience

by Mecca Bullchild

For many individuals, time is perceived linearly. While individuals only like to think about what is happening in the now, we should propose a visionary perspective. People who are considered to be visionary, often possess the capacity to think beyond timeline linear thinking and envision the possibilities beyond their immediate circumstances. The reason for this proposal is because, in some Native beliefs, time is seen as interconnected and interdependent. This perspective encourages a closer understanding of the impacts of decisions and behaviors we make. Prompting individuals to consider the implications for future generations. This includes our actions that will echo across each generation, from the seven generations before to the seven generations after. After hundreds of years of oppression and campaigns of extermination, Native peoples have been forcibly assimilated into Western conventional life. This has advocated the visionary perspective and because of this, the history of Native Americans is one of resilience.

The keyword “Resilience” is used to characterize a group of traits that in the face of trials and tribulations, promote effective adaptation and change. The introduction of the concept of resilience acknowledges that it helps find a way to thrive despite severe hardships, trauma, and deprivation. The capacity to withstand, recover, and overcome that adversity shifts the focus of our well-being. Some people are born with a strong sense of resilience. Others may need to learn skills to develop. This entails recognizing and taking advantage of one's untapped strengths, which are frequently discovered through adversity. Like other abilities, resilience gets better with experience. Our lives are ever-evolving narratives, and so is the pathway to resilience and the equally important parallel process of our well-being. An individual's capacity to deal with the ups and downs of life can be shaped by a multitude of factors, including genetics, social environment, and development. Our strengths and the positive outcomes can stem from that and are known as being resilient.

With a resilient mindset, we must acknowledge that we are faced with setbacks or challenges in life. With this view it’s easy to get discouraged and feel like giving up. The idea of resilience is what keeps pushing us forward and puts a focus on the positive aspects of our situation. With this we can find the strength to overcome anything. This concept is seen in world history of cultural assimilation, in which the culture comes to resemble and be absorbed into the dominant culture of society. In this way, Native Peoples' history has not been kind. When Europeans arrived in America, diseases were brought that decimated Native populations. Along with colonial policies that led to displacement, warfare, and exploitation of native peoples' resources. This would also lead to the colonial policies that are still affecting Native communities today. Thus, Native People are in a state of liminality between traditional ways and the modern way of life. The concept of resilience through the lens of Native perspectives proposes the use of traditional lifeways to overcome the negative influences of oppression, abuse, poverty, violence, and discrimination. Native resilience refers to enduring and overcoming the adversity of historical and ongoing colonization. Despite facing significant challenges, Native communities have demonstrated remarkable strength, adaptability, and perseverance in preserving their cultures, languages, traditions, and ways of life.

In modern day life, Native Americans face legal challenges to their sovereignty, land rights, and treaty rights. This is because of the attempts of the government to implement policies aimed at assimilating Native Americans into mainstream society. The notion of resiliency has emerged that enables individuals to overcome negative situations in their lives. Negative experiences Natives have endured include the forced displacement of Native peoples. Which began when European settlers formed laws to relocate communities. This idea is a part of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This Bill legalized the forced removal of Native people from their ancestral lands to promote the settlement of white Americans in those areas. This act was in the view to make the United States a liberal democracy. “The goal of these relocations was to remove an undesirable aspect of the newly formed republic and physically place it out of sight on the fringe of American society”(Gifted Lands and Broken Treaties: A Study on the Resiliency of Native American Communities to Economic Shocks, n.d.). When the United States government established reservations, it created a system that eroded tribal sovereignty, isolated communities, and hindered the economic development of tribal communities.

Another negative experience of the European colonial period was when The United States government attempted to assimilate Native children with an ‘Indian Education’ Act. Native American people were forced to attend these schools, forbidden to speak Native languages, made to renounce Native beliefs, and forced to abandon their Native identities, including their names. Stripped of everything known to the Native American tribes. It was believed that Native people would not succeed unless their traditions, habits, and beliefs were eradicated. Native people would be taught the importance of private property, material wealth, and monogamous families. The reformers assumed that it was necessary to “civilize” native people and make them accept European beliefs and value systems. “Kill the Indian in him and save the man” (Meza, 2015 pp. 354) The purpose of Indian policy was a part of the Western-style ‘civilized’ idea of life.

Native American communities must be understood in the sociocultural and historical contexts of colonization and historical grief and trauma. We might understand why members of modern Native communities appear to have experienced trauma and its pathological aftereffects frequently, especially in their early years of life. The prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is higher because a large number of people have encountered trauma from various causes. There are many people who have experienced this trauma from many sources, which raises the rate of PTSD. “Some psychiatric investigations among Native Americans have demonstrated disproportionately high rates of exposure to traumatic experiences in the context of poverty, violence, and substance abuse, leading in some instances to more than double the prevalence for PTSD in comparison to the general U.S. adult population”(Gone, 2013).

From trauma to PTSD, to Historical trauma, the broader concept of historical oppression has emerged within Native communities as academic frameworks for comprehending the enduring effects of colonization. The most often-used definition of historical trauma is "cumulative emotional and psychological wounding over the lifespan and across generations emanating from massive group experiences." (Lewis et al., 2021).

The conflict between traditional and modern forces typically appears to have different outcomes for the former. Because of the overwhelming impact of outside forces and influences, Native cultures around the world are frequently depicted as collapsing, as seen by the disproportionately high rates of alcohol consumption and crime among Native Peoples' (Pack, 2018). The effect of this is a reminder that Native populations have endured the outlawing of spiritual and cultural activities and more. Historical Trauma is described as intergenerational as opposed to PTSD disruptions.“The claim is that offspring or descendants of individuals who have experienced Historical Trauma are themselves more susceptible to pathological dysfunction as a consequence of the traumatic experiences of their ancestors (and at least partly independent of their own traumatic experiences)”(Lewis et al., 2021).

Through all this adversity, Native Peoples have survived with much of their traditional cultures still intact. The cultural genocide of Native people remains a recurrent topic. Especially since the culture of people is so important to everyone's way of life. Culture is the community of people who share common experiences that shape the way we understand the world. Culture is the lifeblood of a thriving society and makes a difference in how we view ourselves and others. It affects our values, and what we consider right and wrong. Research has identified the role that tradition and culture play in overcoming such factors in Native families, schools, and communities. The concept of resilience helps us understand we have the capacity, within ourselves, to create better well-being.

Three essential elements support psychological resilience; Internal support consists of traits and skills like optimism, problem-solving, behavioral and emotional control, and positive self-perception. External support includes encouraging connections with peers, family, and friends, among others. Finally, Faith/belief systems and cultural values provide existential support (Resilience: An Innate Human Capacity, 2016). Culture influences how individuals develop networks, what abilities and skills are valued, it all also influences all the elements that contribute to resilience. We benefit from trauma-informed, culturally responsive, resilience-focused approaches, regardless of whether they have personally experienced trauma. Adopting this paradigm can contribute to ensuring that everyone has the chance to develop, learn, and thrive (Resilience: An Innate Human Capacity, 2016).

Comprehension that our bodies, minds, and relationships, as well as their families and communities, are everyday unique human resources that foster resilience rather than us possessing special and extraordinary qualities that foster resilience(Ordinary Magic: Resilience Processes in Development.: EBSCOhost, n.d.). The knowledge that is passed down from generation to generation is the main reason Native people can have resilience, resistance, and adaptation in the face of these challenges. The passing down of knowledge to one another, storytelling, has always been a communication tool across Native cultures, providing a means of transmitting teachings on traditional customs, spiritual belief systems, and ecological knowledge and wisdom. Helping define who we are. ‘cultural resilience has been cultivated by focusing on four developmental areas: spirituality, mental well-being, emotional well-being, and physical well-being’(Strand & Peacock, n.d.).We reiterate and remind ourselves that all traditional healing is based on spirit.

The idea that culture can be used as treatment for a better spirituality, mental well-being, emotional well-being, and physical well-being, has rarely been considered in professional circles outside of Native community treatment contexts. As a consequence, rigorous evaluation of these claims by skeptical outsiders has not been undertaken. In fact, community-based proponents of this reasoning usually don't think that these statements require a thorough analysis, and they might even reject evaluations conducted by researchers without funding because of perhaps incompatible epistemological stances. (Gone, 2013). Nevertheless, the increasingly widespread Natives claim that “our culture is our treatment” has been so prevalent that some health researchers who have worked in these communities felt compelled to contend with this assertion(Gone, 2013).

Identity and Cultural Continuity for native peoples is in the visionary perspective. Preserving customs is only one aspect of cultural preservation; another is preserving a feeling of identity and connections to the seven generations who came before. When culture is in efforts of being erased, cultural continuity is a source of resiliency and strength. Native practices like language revitalization, ceremonies, and storytelling are important components of resiliency. Native peoples have deep connections to their ancestral lands and traditional territories and many Native communities engage in efforts to protect and sustainably manage natural resources, including forests, waterways, and wildlife, using traditional ecological knowledge and practices (Traditional Lifeways and Storytelling,2019). Native resiliency is also greatly influenced by community solidarity. Initiatives to seek and address the past wrongs encourage people to think about the effects on future generations through political activity, community organization, and legal challenges, Native Americans use advocacy and activism to fight for their rights, sovereignty, and self-determination (Csordas, 1999). With future generations in mind it is apparent how important Native youth are.

Native youth are integral to the past, present, and future of communities. By supporting their growth and well-being, the next generation of leaders can be cultivated. Native resilience requires expanding access to quality education for the youth. Education gives the next generation the abilities and self-assurance they need to successfully help navigate their identity. As the youth navigate the difficulty of modern life, maintaining connections to their cultural roots is extremely important. Their engagement with traditional practices and knowledge helps to ensure that Native ways of life remain relevant in contemporary society.

By forging pathways, leaving footprints, and keeping doors open, Native peoples ensure that their cultural heritage, knowledge, and traditions thrive. This commitment to resilience not only strengthens Native communities but also inspires others to persevere in the face of adversity. Native resilience serves as a guiding light for generations to come.

References

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Gifted Lands and Broken Treaties: A study on the resiliency of Native American communities to economic shocks. (n.d.). (Order No. 28489723). https://www.proquest.com/docview/2546081352?parentSessionId=XEZpmZh3O3plBjg8 7Aitc8qJlYioFVbHipDdQcq0%2B0o%3D&accountid=10422&sourcetype=Dissertations %20&%20Theses

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Kirmayer, L. J., Dandeneau, S., Marshall, E., Phillips, M. K., & Williamson, K. J. (2011). Rethinking Resilience from Indigenous Perspectives. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(2), 84–91. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674371105600203

Lewis, M. E., Stremlau, R., Walls, M. L., Reed, J., Baker, J., Kirk, W., & Van De Belt, T. H. (2021). Psychosocial aspects of Historical and Cultural Learning: Historical Trauma and Resilience among Indigenous Young Adults. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 32(2), 987–1018. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2021.0076

Meza, N. (2015). Indian Education: Maintaining tribal sovereignty through Native American culture and language preservation. Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal, 2015(1), 353–366. https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1365&context=elj

Ordinary magic: Resilience processes in development.: EBSCOhost. (n.d.). https://web.p.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=5c7a4eeb-7d71-46d 1-9e8b-87a10d6b702e%40redis

Pack, S. E. (2018). “Endeavor to Persevere”: The Bad, the Good, and Making Frybread. The Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 38(1), 55. https://works.bepress.com/sam_pack/34/

Resilience: an innate human capacity. (2016, October 4). VAWnet.org. https://vawnet.org/sc/resilience-innate-human-capacity

Strand, J. A., & Peacock, T. D. (n.d.). Nurturing resilience and school success in American Indian and Alaska native students. ERIC Digest. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED471488