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Felix Clary
ICT + Tulsa World
TULSA, Okla. – Harvard University anthropology professor Joseph P. Gone spoke at Tulsa University Thursday night to introduce his theories about historical trauma. He used the history of his own tribe, the Aaniiih or Gros Ventre tribe of Montana, to demonstrate his treatment plans.
His great-grandfather, Fred P. Gone, was employed by the Montana Writers Project to gather stories from elders in the tribe. Those stories were mainly war stories, hero stories and recountings of “many coups” told by elders before they passed away. “Many coups” is a phrase that means a collection of great achievements.
Gone used his great-grandfather’s writings to determine that the most important factors to his ancestors were their “wishes and powers.” This meant they believed speaking their desires and goals would help manifest what they want and need and that accomplishing their goals was a high honor.
The Aaniiih would have elders or war heroes recount their many coups at major events, everything from a child’s first ear piercing to a funeral or memorial.
Inspired by this meaningful and therapeutic practice, Gone invented a neo-traditional approach to Indigenous mental health.
His approach focuses on achieving and recounting “mastery over violence.” Instead of recounting your war achievements in a therapeutic manner, a patient would recount their achievements of mastering sports, the arts, education, etc.
Gone noted high addiction rates in Indigenous populations, and explained that Indigenous people have higher rates of self-blame and negative self-talk.
This exercise of focusing on your goals, then celebrating and recounting them once they’ve been achieved is not only effective treatment, but historically and culturally inspired.
He also made the argument that telling of one’s life or one’s narrative is a therapeutic way of healing.
Tulsa University has created a new trauma studies minor that explores historical trauma effects and treatments, based on Gone’s theories.
The new minor is called the Historical Trauma and Transformation minor, or H2T for short. It was created by the university’s Institute of Trauma, Adversity and Injustice with a $150,000 grant from the National Endowment for Humanities.
Lisa DeMarni Cromer, executive director of the institute and lead on the project, stated, “TITAN (the institute) has long been on the leading edge of trauma-focused interdisciplinary scholarship and providing this educational opportunity at the undergraduate level will have far-reaching impacts. A key aspect of this unique program is a Summer Faculty Training Institute that will bring trauma-focused, culturally humble teaching approaches to courses that are in the minor’s curriculum.”
The new minor is now offered to 2024 enrolling students.
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