Native Americans are one of the World’s most under-rated race. With the bare minimum media representation we get, it’s understandable that the general public (aside from Canada students with basic social studies education) are uninformed of the history of the diverse culture.
From colonization to residential schools to media exploitation, aboriginal people just never seem to get a break, or recognition for that matter.
In Canada, our K-12 Education curriculum focuses on the bare minimum, resulting in the same information being taught over and over again. Essentially, our education tells us who “Indian” people are, what residential schools were and when/why they happened. The attempted assimilation of the Native culture, and the Indian Act are also taught. We are not taught about the true struggles and strength of our people.
Inter-generational trauma is the idea that the trauma and effects of living through residential school continue to affect the families of the victim years after they have left residential school. For example, the result of the child getting taken away from parents at a young age and exposed to the negligence and abuse in residential school could result in that child growing up unable to properly care for their child. Inter-generational trauma is one of the most talked about consequences of residential school.
While residential school is one of the most devastating acts in Canada’s history, it is important to acknowledge the strength of the survivors as well as the trauma.
Although Canadian residential schools did result in inter-generational trauma, it also resulted in inter-generational strength and resilience. It’s important to realize that Native Americans are not victims, we are survivors. Survivors of colonization, assimilation, racism, and hatred.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Henry Stanley Haskins
The fact that Native American culture and tribes are still active prove our fortitude. We are not to be stepped on, we are not ashamed, we are
The strength and resilience of our people is passed on through generations of fighting; fighting for our rights, land, families, water. It is our responsibility as aboriginal people to continue using our strength to better ourselves, to better our future generations.
To ensure the resilience is eternal, we can continue to support and educate each other. Stand tall for your culture, listen to your elders, appreciate your ancestors. Our resilience and communities are what will continue to join us together for generations to come.
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