This month, the Faculty of Medicine’s Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) hosted Rod Jeffries, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, to talk about healing from individual and collective trauma caused by colonization. Rod Jeffries co-founded the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide movement, which aims to bring together different Indigenous groups from around the world at an international conference to share resources and support each other in healing and recovering from addiction.
The event was moderated by Derek Thompson, Thlaapkiituup, the Indigenous Initiatives advisor for the Office of REDI. Both the hosted speaker, Rod Jeffries, and Derek Thompson shared personal and impactful stories of their own journeys in healing their trauma, and the amazing work they’ve done to help others on their healing journeys. Several main themes arose during their conversation:
1. Trauma disconnects us
Ultimately, experiencing trauma disconnects us from ourselves. In response, we often seek connection in places that are harmful for us – e.g., overworking, alcoholism, or people-pleasing. We first need to relearn how to connect with ourselves so we can connect with others. To forge this connection, we need to speak our truths and tell our stories. But trauma keeps us quiet – it can be very difficult to talk openly about the worst parts of our lives. We can’t do it alone! We must stand with each other as we do the work. Recovering from trauma is difficult and can take years, but it is incredibly rewarding – in doing so, Indigenous people can rediscover the gifts that trauma and colonization have taken away from them.
2. Indigenous teachings and knowledge are integral to addiction treatment
Songs and ceremonies are an integral part of sharing our stories and connecting with each other. Rod Jeffries discussed the importance of a community first grounding in who they are as an Indigenous group and their teachings, and then building treatments from there. Western-style therapies may contribute useful tools here and there, but cannot form the basis of treatment options. What came to mind for me is that we often think of therapy as a one-on-one activity – but as emphasized in point #1, healing from trauma and telling your story can be so much more powerful in a group. I can see how this would be especially true when dealing with collective trauma such as colonization. For groups who have suffered from cultural oppression, traditional teachings are so crucial to reconnection with the self and others. Indigenous people need the resources and support to run their own programs based on their own teachings and values.
3. Non-Indigenous Canadians need to heal too
We often put the responsibility of healing from individual and collective trauma on those who suffered the most. But non-Indigenous Canadians need to do the work too, so we can all walk together. Reconciliation is up to all of us. The first thing we can do is listen. It was, at times, incredibly hard to hear the stories that Rod Jeffries and Derek Thompson shared about the trauma that they and their families experienced. But that’s where healing can happen, for all of us. We need to understand and acknowledge the stories of Indigenous people, and that colonialism continues to this day. Rod Jeffries also specifically spoke about what health professionals can do – let go of judgment and what we think we have learned. Develop an understanding of who Indigenous people are, their cultures, and what has happened. Understand why overdosing, poverty, and suicide are so prevalent, without placing blame, shame, and judgment on those who are suffering. Recognize the strength of Indigenous people for surviving what they have experienced.
Overall, it was an incredibly impactful and informative event. It was equally a reflection on and sharing of the trauma that Indigenous people have experienced, a celebration of what we’ve done right in reconciliation, and a roadmap for what we can do going forward. The recording can be viewed here. Healing Our Spirit Worldwide will be hosted in Vancouver in 2023 – more information here. As a final point, Rod Jeffries recommended two books for non-Indigenous Canadians to further their understanding and continue learning about these challenging topics – White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, and Legacy by Suzanne Methot.
Brett Hathaway, January 28th 2022