Hit the ESC key at any time to hide this site. Please note: If the web messaging window is active, the Esc key will not function as expected. To use it, first close the messaging window or exit the browser. Privacy Tips
If you send a text, you will immediately receive a response notification that you will be texted back from a secondary number. Standard text rates may apply.
Your information will be kept anonymous and confidential.
Seven Generations Forward: Breaking Cycles of Harm and Healing Native Communities
Share this
Understanding the Seven Generations Principle
In many Native American traditions, the concept of “Seven Generations” is a guiding philosophy. It teaches that the decisions we make today should be considered in light of how they will affect the next seven generations, our children, grandchildren, and beyond. This perspective encourages people to think long-term about their actions, especially regarding health, family, community, and the environment.
But what happens when cycles of harm disrupt this vision?
What Are Historical Wounds?
Wounds of the past refers to the collective emotional and psychological wounding that is passed down through generations within a community. For Native Americans, this trauma is rooted in centuries of painful experiences:
European Invasion and Displacement: Native peoples were forced from their ancestral lands, often through violence or broken treaties. For example, the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation during the "Trail of Tears" led to immense loss of life, land, and cultural practices, the echoes of which are still felt today.
Boarding Schools: From the late 1800s through much of the 20th century, Native children were taken from their families and sent to government-run boarding schools. There, they were forbidden to speak their languages, practice their cultures, or see their families. Many suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Survivors often recount severe punishments for speaking their native tongue or practicing traditional ceremonies, leading to deep-seated shame and disconnection from their heritage.
Loss of Culture and Language: Policies aimed at assimilation stripped Native communities of their languages, spiritual practices, and traditional ways of life. Consider the dramatic decline in the number of fluent speakers of many indigenous languages, a direct result of these oppressive policies, impacting the transmission of cultural knowledge.
Systemic Violence and Discrimination: Native Americans have faced ongoing discrimination, marginalization, and violence, both from individuals and institutions. This includes disproportionately high rates of violence against Native women, ongoing struggles for land rights, and racial profiling in everyday interactions.
These experiences were not isolated events but part of a long history of harm that continues to affect Native communities today.
What Is Intra-generational Trauma?
Intra-generational trauma refers to the emotional and psychological distress experienced within a single generation as a result of ongoing, cumulative, or repeated traumatic events. While historical wounds are passed down, intra-generational trauma is the direct experience of systemic harm and its immediate consequences by individuals and communities in the present. This can include the ongoing effects of discrimination, poverty, violence, or lack of access to resources that exacerbate historical wounds. For instance, a young Native person today experiencing racial discrimination in school or a lack of culturally competent healthcare services is experiencing intra-generational trauma, which can compound the effects of historical wounds.
How Do Historical Wounds and Intra-generational Trauma Affect Daily Life?
Trauma is not just a memory, it lives in the present. Here’s how it can show up in daily life:
Mental Health Challenges
Native Americans experience higher rates of:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Many people live with the effects of trauma, even if they did not personally experience the original events. An individual might experience flashbacks or severe anxiety in situations that unconsciously trigger memories of historical injustices, such as government interactions or confrontations over land.
Depression and Anxiety: The weight of collective grief and loss can lead to persistent sadness and worry. A sense of hopelessness about the future of their culture or community can contribute to chronic depression among individuals.
Substance Use: Some turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with unresolved pain. For example, an elder might use alcohol to numb the pain of residential school abuse, and their children, witnessing this coping mechanism, might also turn to substance use to manage their own distress.
Suicidal Thoughts: Rates of suicide among Native youth are significantly higher than in other groups. Young people grappling with a fractured cultural identity, systemic discrimination, and a legacy of unresolved trauma may feel a profound sense of despair. Suicide and Domestic Violence
Family and Community Struggles
Domestic Violence: Trauma can disrupt healthy relationships, leading to cycles of abuse. A person who grew up in a household where intergenerational trauma manifested as anger or emotional volatility may unknowingly perpetuate similar patterns in their own relationships. Read More Hear About Domestic Violence
Parenting Challenges: Parents who grew up in traumatic environments may struggle to provide the emotional support their children need. A parent who was denied affection and connection with exposure to many types of abuse in a boarding school might find it difficult to express love and nurture their own children, even though they wish to. Read More on Parenting, Children and Domestic ViolenceParenting and Coping Skills
Isolation: Feelings of shame, grief, or mistrust can make it hard to reach out for help or connect with others. Communities might be hesitant to trust external agencies or even internal leadership due to a history of broken promises and exploitation.
Loss of Cultural Identity
Language Loss: Many Native languages are endangered or have been lost entirely. Children growing up today may not have the opportunity to learn their ancestral language, leading to a sense of disconnect from their heritage and elders.
Disconnection from Traditions: Without access to cultural practices, people may feel a sense of shame, emptiness or loss. Young people may struggle to find their place within their community if traditional ceremonies or practices are no longer accessible or widely practiced. Some youth experience shame with disconnection from their traditions and practices.
Intergenerational Silence: Trauma is often not talked about, leaving younger generations confused about their history and identity. Grandparents who survived boarding schools might avoid discussing their experiences, leaving their grandchildren with unanswered questions about their family's past and the origins of their collective pain.
The Power of Native Healing Practices
Despite these challenges, Native communities have always had strong tools for healing. These practices are rooted in culture, connection, and community:
Ceremony and Prayer
Ceremonies and prayers are central to many Native traditions. They provide a sense of purpose, connection to the sacred, and a way to honor ancestors and the land. For instance, participating in a sweat lodge ceremony can offer a powerful space for purification, reflection, and spiritual renewal, fostering emotional release and a sense of belonging. Mental Health and Healing Through Native American Gratitude Practices
Connection to Land and Ancestors
The land is seen as a source of strength and healing. Many ceremonies and teachings are tied to specific places, and honoring ancestors helps people feel part of a larger story. Spending time on ancestral lands, engaging in traditional hunting or gathering, or participating in a vision quest can profoundly reconnect individuals to their heritage and the healing power of nature. Our Connection to the Land
Teachings from Elders
Elders are respected as keepers of wisdom. Their guidance helps younger generations navigate challenges and maintain cultural values. An elder sharing stories of resilience and traditional knowledge can provide invaluable guidance to a struggling youth, offering a sense of identity and purpose.
Storytelling and Song
Stories and songs carry history, lessons, and hope. They remind people of their resilience and the importance of community. Traditional oral histories passed down through generations can provide a framework for understanding past traumas and finding strength in collective survival, while healing songs can soothe and uplift the spirit.
Gatherings and Community Care
Coming together for feasts, dances, or support groups helps people feel less alone. Community care is a powerful antidote to isolation. Powwows, for example, are vibrant community gatherings that foster joy, connection, and the celebration of cultural identity, counteracting the isolating effects of trauma. Finding Healing in Community
Breaking the Cycle: Healing for the Future
Healing is a powerful act of restoration that honors both past and future generations. In Native communities, it strengthens families, renews cultural identity, and breaks cycles of harm.
A mother who sets boundaries teaches her children they deserve respect.
A grandfather who shares his pain shows his grandson that men can feel and heal.
A young person who seeks help becomes a role model for others.
Healing is sacred work. It restores dignity, safety, culture, and belonging, not just for individuals, but for entire communities.
StrongHearts Native Helpline: A Place to Begin
Every healing journey starts with a single step. The StrongHearts Native Helpline is a safe, confidential resource for Native Americans and Alaska Natives affected by domestic and sexual violence. Advocates offer support, cultural understanding, and help with safety planning—all with respect for Native values and traditions.
Live Chat: Available on their website
You are sacred. Your healing matters. And your future is worth protecting.
Conclusion: Healing for Seven Generations
Healing is medicine. Every act of courage, every prayer, every moment of connection plants a seed for the future. By healing today, we honor our ancestors and protect our descendants.
Seven generations from now, may our children’s children look back with pride, knowing we broke the cycles of harm so they could live free.
References
Brave Heart, M. Y. H. (2003). The historical trauma response among Natives and its relationship with substance abuse: A Lakota illustration. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 35(1), 7-13.
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). (2021). Policy Research Center: Mental Health in Native Communities.
Indian Health Service. (2022). Behavioral Health. https://www.ihs.gov
Gone, J. P. (2013). Redressing First Nations historical trauma: Theorizing mechanisms for indigenous culture as mental health treatment. Transcultural Psychiatry, 50(5), 683–706.
