The Pathways Learning Network convened to learn about Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander acts of resilience and the ways in which state agencies can support healing from and mitigation of trauma and toxic stress among these communities. Read on for key takeaways from the session.

Honor the difference between Native American, Native Hawai’ian, and Pacific Islander communities while acknowledging shared experiences, challenges, and barriers.

  • The terms Native and Tribal are not a monolith – each community has its own unique culture and identity. There is also great diversity within Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities that should be considered when developing programming.
  • There are shared experiences, challenges, and barriers being overcome by these populations – including genocide, colonialism, historical trauma, and contemporary adversity. 

Improve understanding of historical trauma and contemporary adversity among Native and Tribal communities, including the impact of colonization.

  • Colonization has had generational impacts.
  • Recognize that many of systems we exist in are not intended to help or support tribal and indigenous communities but were made to oppress and maintain hierarchies.
  • You can learn more about land acknowledgements and the history of your location at www.native-lands.ca.

Respect tribal sovereignty and Indigenous knowledge.

  • Many cultural best practices speak to connection to place, cultural protocol, and connection to self.
  • Work with communities to develop guidelines around keeping/protecting cultural practices. Native and Tribal communities should have equal standing with states because of their sovereignty status.
  • Culture-based programs incorporating spirituality, wellness, and healing have been passed down for thousands of years through oral tradition and should be recognized by state and federal governments as valuable community-based best practices in addition to evidence-based programming.
  • Connection with native culture can serve as a protective factor for these communities to overcome tragedy and stresses.
  • Having dedicated offices at the state level helps address structural issues and allows people to practice cultural connectedness without fear or shame.

Understand current challenges facing Native American, Native Hawai’ian, and Pacific Islander communities.

Seek examples of what meaningful, equitable engagement with Native and Tribal leaders can look like in a state policy context.

  • Cultivate meaningful relationships and invite people with lived experience from the population you’re serving to the decision-making tables.
  • Sustainability is important – it can often take 10 or more years of funding to implement effective prevention programming.
  • Ensure trauma-informed training is available for schools and teachers.
  • Recognize your own limits and know that vicarious trauma is real. Create systems that build in organizational care and lessen the burden on individuals.

Additional Resources

Watch the full Pathways Learning Network session below or on our event page. Pathways to Resilience will continue to amplify strategies for promoting healing and resilience and share resources for those seeking to implement similar approaches.