Historical trauma is a combination of immense losses and traumatic "happenings" that are perpetrated upon entire cultures. These losses include culture, language, land, people (deaths due to diseases and war), way of life, religion and family structure. When the causes and effects of these wounds have not been resolved, they are transmitted from one generation to the next. The untold history lives on at a cellular level- a cellular memory. The hurt, suffering and pain of trauma/injustice when left untouched continues to cause harm until it is finally addressed.
On March 28, 2018 presenters Lisa Ellanna, Director of Kawerak Katirvik Cultural Center in Nome, and Elder Kathy Sanchez, Environmental Health and Justice Program Manager at Tewa Women United, talked about internalized oppression and community approaches to healing.
We joined a conversation about the importance of resolving intergenerational historical trauma to achieve environmental health and justice. To learn more about our speakers, you can watch videos of Lisa Ellana and Elder Kathy Sanchez speaking at the Alaska Children's Environmental Health Summit.
This call was hosted by the CHE-Alaska Partnership, which is coordinated by Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT). It lasted for 60 minutes and was recorded for the call and webinar archive.