Title : Ancestral strengths: Understanding historical trauma and building resiliency through the collaboration of Native American teachings and evidence-based practices
Abstract:
Native American communities continue to face signi?cant challenges related to substance use, including higher rates of addiction, limited access to effective treatment, and experiences shaped by stereotypes and systemic inequities. Many current treatment models do not fully account for the cultural and historical realities that in?uence engagement and healing. This presentation offers a more grounded and culturally responsive approach, based on work being implemented at Nat-su Healthcare, a residential treatment program that centers Native American teachings as the foundation of care.
Drawing from the research of Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart, this session will explore the concept of historical trauma and its ongoing impact across generations. Particular attention will be given to the boarding school era and how those experiences continue to affect identity, family relationships, and behavioral health in Native communities today. Understanding this context is essential for providers seeking to offer meaningful and effective care.
At the heart of this approach is the recognition that Native teachings have always held pathways for healing—long before modern clinical language or research existed. Today, many evidence-based practices align with and support these traditional ways of knowing. At Nat-su Healthcare, treatment is structured so that cultural teachings, storytelling, ceremony-informed practices, and relationships guide the healing process, while clinical modalities are used to strengthen and support that foundation.
This presentation will share practical tools, exercises, and approaches that providers can begin using in their own work. While the focus is on Native communities, the framework offered extends beyond one culture. Participants will gain a way to approach any community with greater cultural awareness, respect, and intention—supporting care that is both effective and meaningful.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to integrate culture and clinical practice in a way that honors the whole person and supports lasting healing.
Objectives:
- Increase understanding of historical trauma and its impact on substance use and treatment engagement among Native American populations.
- Identify the lasting effects of the boarding school era on present-day behavioral health and family systems.
- Describe how Native American teachings can serve as a foundation for holistic healing within a clinical setting.
- Explore ways to integrate evidence-based practices in alignment with cultural values and traditions.
- Apply practical strategies and exercises to enhance culturally responsive care across diverse populations.
