am. indian and generaitonal trauma
TRANSCRIPT
Kill the Indian, Save the Man: American Indian Students and
Generational Trauma
You are here!
Today’s outline• My story
• Introduction to Historical Trauma
• Data on American Indian students nationally and in Minnesota
• American Indian students and the achievement gap
• Introduction to Cultural Betrayal
• Small group discussion
• Strategies for supporting American Indian students
One example of historical trauma – my own story as an
American Indian college student
•Historical trauma is the cumulative emotional and psychological wounding, extending over an individual lifespan and across generations, caused by traumatic experiences.
• Even those who do not have a direct experience of the trauma itself can feel the effects generations later
•Health disparities, substance abuse, and mental illness are all commonly linked to experiences of historical trauma
“All the Indian there is in the race should be dead. Kill the Indian in him, and save the man” - Richard Pratt, founder of the first boarding school for Native children
• Warfare/Biological Warfare• Loss of land base & resources• Ongoing treaty violations• Relocation/Removal• Prohibition of spiritual & cultural practices• Forced sterilization• Community massacres• Mascots, Halloween costumes, and other forms of cultural appropriation • Boarding schools/assimilation• Introduction to alcohol
What else has caused trauma across generations?
Researchers say…• Historical trauma and forced cultural disconnection is the main
cause for the high levels of alcoholism in Native communities.
• The continued exploitation of Native communities by the government lead to and continues the cycle of poverty.
• Historical distrust in the healthcare system has lead to increased health disparities.
• Historical distrust in the education system is one of main causes of the achievement gap amongst Native students
Nationally, Native students…•Have the lowest high school graduation rate of any cultural group•Represent less than 1% of all college-going students•Have higher drop out rates than any other cultural group•Are likely to be first-generation, employed while in school, and have dependents
In Minnesota•American Indians make up about 1% of the population•The AI community is expected to increase by 13% percent between now and 2035.•The two largest groups of American Indians in Minnesota are the Anishinabe (“first men”) and the Dakota (“friends”)•MN has a long, complicated history with this community
At Minnesota State•AI students make up 0.8% of our 2016 enrollment• Enrollment across campuses range from 0.2% to 9.2%• Enrollment system-wide dropped 0.1% from 2015 to
2016• The average age of AI students is 28.4, compared to
24.9 for white students• Lack of data on AI students, faculty, and staff as we are
often lumped together with people of color
• Lack of role models/other Native people
• Feelings of isolation
• Discrimination
• Generational trauma
• Family responsibilities
• Feelings of cultural betrayal
Why are Native students dropping out of college?
• There are 11 federally recognized tribes in MN• In 1858, after losing all their land, the Dakota people were dying off from starvation.• Although white settlements had plenty of food, white leaders would not consent to Chief Little Crow's plea to feed the starving people. This lead to the "Great Sioux Uprising" of 1862.• After the uprising, 38 Native Americans were hanged at Mankato under the order of President Lincoln. This is still the largest mass execution in U.S. history.• At least 150 Dakota died while being held prisoner at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, MN during the winter of 1862.• Fort Snelling currently serves as a military museum. Dozens of “Take down the Fort” protests have been organized by American Indian activists.• The American Indian Movement, an organization created to ensure the fulfillment of treaties made with the United States, is headquartered in Minneapolis.
Minnesota
1. How many of these facts did you already know? Where did you learn about them?
2. Did any of this history surprise you?
3. How do you think this history affects American Indian students/staff/faculty today?
4. How does Minnesota State fit into this history?
5. Are you aware of any current events affecting the AI community?
6. What is your role in supporting American Indian students?
Report back
• Do your own research on American Indian communities!
• Think critically about the histories you’ve learned and the histories you
haven’t learned
• Show up to American Indian community events (where you are allowed)
• Own your privilege and your role in colonization
• Talk to others about this issue
• Find your role in supporting these students
Takeaways: Strategies for supporting AI students
Questions?
Comments?
• Historical Trauma and Cultural Healing. University of Minnesota Extension. http://www.extension.umn.edu/family/cyfc/our-programs/historical-trauma-and-cultural-healing/
• Historical Trauma in American Indian/Native Alaska Communities: A Multilevel Framework for Exploring Impacts on Individuals, Families, and Communities by Teresa Evans-Campbell. University of Washington. http://jiv.sagepub.com/content/23/3/316.abstract
• Native American Tribes in Minnesota. http://www.native-languages.org/minnesota.htm
• Native American College Students: A Group Forgotten. http://ecommons.luc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=jcshesa
• Discrimination, Substance Use, and Cultural Buffers among Native American College Students. Brenna Greenfield. University of New Mexico. http://repository.unm.edu/handle/1928/30387
• Beyond the Asterisk: Understanding Native Students in Higher Education. Chapter 1 - https://sty.presswarehouse.com/sites/stylus/resrcs/chapters/1579226248_1stChap.pdf
• Native American College Student Transition Theory. Suzanne D. Schooler. Grand Valley State University. http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=csal
• Native American Students in Higher Education - The Past, Present and Future. https://www.higheredjobs.com/higheredcareers/interviews.cfm?ID=470
• Exploring Achievement: Factors Affecting Native American College Student Success. Heather Crosby. Texas State University. https://digital.library.txstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10877/3615/fulltext.pdf
• American Indians in Minnesota. http://www.culturecareconnection.org/documents/InformationSheet_AmericanIndian.pdf
• Overview of Indian Tribes in Minnesota. https://mn.gov/indianaffairs/tribes.html
• American Indian/Alaskan Native College Dropout: Recommendations for Increasing Retention and Graduation. https://csd.wustl.edu/Publications/Documents/WP15-03.pdf
• Fighting for Our Lives: #NoDAPL in Historical Context. https://therednation.org/2016/09/18/fighting-for-our-lives-nodapl-in-context/
• Standing Rock Syllabus. https://nycstandswithstandingrock.wordpress.com/standingrocksyllabus/
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