Prevention. Intervention. Respect.
Tipis in a field

Wicasa Was'aha: Restoring the Traditional Strength of American Indian Boys and Men.

We examined health disparities among American Indian men and boys within the framework of historical trauma, which incorporates the historical context of collective massive group trauma across generations. We reviewed the impact of collective traumatic experiences among Lakota men, who have faced cross--generational challenges to enacting traditional tribal roles. We describe historical trauma-informed interventions used with two tribal groups: Lakota men and Southwestern American Indian boys. These two interventions represent novel approaches to addressing historical trauma and the health disparities that American Indians face. We offer public health implications and recommendations for strategies to use in the planning and implementation of policy, research, and program development with American Indian boys and men.

Brave Heart, Maria Yellow Horse; Elkins, Jennifer; Tafoya, Greg; Bird, Doreen; Salvador, Melina
American Journal of Public Health
2012
102
S2
7
American Public Health Association
Article
NATIVE American teenage boys; INDIGENOUS peoples of the Americas -- History; HISTORY of gender role; SUICIDE risk factors; WOUND care; HEALTH education; METHODOLOGY; ADOLESCENCE; CONCEPTUAL structures (Information theory); CONVALESCENCE; GRIEF; INTERGENERATIONAL relations; LOSS (Psychology); MEN; PUBLIC health surveillance; RITES & ceremonies; HEALTH disparities; CULTURAL competence
  • Agent
  • Resource
  • Setting
Tribal Creation
Individual/Child
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary
Child
  • exposure to stress
  • mental health problems
  • neighborhood disadvantage
  • OTHER (Specify)
  • socio-economic disadvantage
Historical trauma
  • access to health and social services
  • positive social connection and support
  • social and emotional competence