Living Through Healing

Inter-generational Trauma Healing

Mending Broken Hearts focuses on an approach to addressing inter-generational trauma for the purpose of healing. Mending Broken Hearts teaches about the trauma from stripping away the culture, community, elders’ teachings, spirituality, language, values and ceremonies from Native Americans. Historically, this trauma occurred generations ago, as a consequence of mission and boarding schools that the Native American youth were forced into. This shift resulted in trauma— the taking away of an identity, values, having native languages silenced, even sexual and physical abuse.

The pain from this trauma is still felt, seven generations later. We are committed to breaking this cycle. Some of the biggest roadblocks to addiction treatment for Native Americans are addressing this inter-generational trauma, the generations of substance abuse and addiction, generations of shame and generations of abuse. We use the knowledge from this training to address the very real and ever-present root emotions of anger, guilt, shame, and fear— so that we can make room for healing.

By participating in a White Bison curriculum, people learn culturally influenced techniques to benefit recovery from addiction in Native communities. Facilitators receive coaching to successfully integrate sobriety, recovery, addiction prevention, and wellness practices.