One definition of historical trauma is “the cumulative and collective psychological and emotional injury that a group of people experiences over generations.” But it’s more than just a trendy phrase used to explain away some of the world’s biggest problems; science has shown it impacts descendants’ DNA, and in the case of Indigenous peoples in the United States, there are many hard truths behind the historical trauma they experience.

The co-hosts welcome a very special guest (by phone) into The Escape Pod this week. Jim Warne is a former professional football player, academic, filmmaker and Lakota “elder-in-training.” He also happens to be the son of one of the cohosts’ all-time favorite people: the late Bev Warne. Jim shares stories and wisdom from his mom, who rose above the heartache and hardships she and many Lakota faced – and continue to face – to become a respected elder, educator, nurse, and escape artist in her own right who spent her life helping, healing, and advocating for her people and the culture they nearly lost.

Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers:

• Topic #1 6:47 An introduction and explanation of historical trauma

• Topic #2 19:09 Bev’s story

• Topic #3 33:02 Lessons American students typically don’t learn

• Topic #4 50:55 Raising awareness through modern media

• Topic #5 1:05:34 Jim’s interesting journey through the ‘90s

Resources & Links

• https://www.gen7films.com

• https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/elections/right-to-vote/voting-rights-for-native-americans/

• https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/native-americans-and-freedom-religion/

• https://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia/termination

• https://nativenewsonline.net/health/cdc-native-americans-see-highest-increase-of-suicide-deaths

• https://americanaddictioncenters.org/addiction-statistics/native-americans

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25985068/

• https://www.se.edu/native-american/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2019/09/A-NAS-2017-Proceedings-Smith.pdf

• https://www.britannica.com/event/Wounded-Knee-Massacre

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