Intergenerational Trauma

Intergenerational Trauma is defined as the “effect of a previous unresolved trauma passed on to subsequent generations of an individual's family, community, and culture" (Hoffman and Jones, 2018; Cowan, 2020, 27). The trauma from the Residential Schools is intergenerational trauma. Survivors were taken away from families and communities and they experienced neglect and abuse with an authoritarian parenting model in Residential Schools while watching the children around them receive the same treatment. Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, heightened feelings of anger, post-traumatic stress disorder, and higher rates of suicide are all connected to the trauma of Residential Schools.

In the Schools, children were punished for their culture which in turn influenced the Survivors' perspectives surrounding the importance of this aspect in a family and community setting. As a result, Survivors' sense of identity was stolen as their cultural traditions and language were taken away from them at the Residential Schools. This caused a loss of culture and community relationships. 

Entire generations of Indigenous People were removed from their homes and communities; to be isolated and subjugated to loneliness, anger, sadness, pain, and hopelessness to hand down to their children. Symptoms of intergenerational trauma can be seen in instances of depression and increased rates of suicide - rates that are three times higher than in the non-Indigenous population. 

Intergenerational trauma has been countered by courage, resilience, and the resistance of the Survivor community. However, the effects will remain until the systematic oppression created through Residential Schools is addressed. These oppressions manifest in many aspects of our community through racism, marginalization, and cultural discrimination.

Many prejudices are held against Indigenous People every day; drunk, lazy, drug addict, and angry (Fontaine T. 2015). These stereotypes are rooted in trauma caused by the Residential Schools. Unresolved trauma is manifesting through multiple generations. When viewing any stereotypes, it is imperative to question where they originated from and why. These stereotypes being placed on Indigenous youth further the effects of colonization in communities through continuing oppression.

Further Reading:

Menzies, P. (2020, March 25). Intergenerational trauma and residential schools. The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Fontaine, T. (2015). Stolen lives: The Indigenous peoples of Canada and the Indian Residential Schools. Facing History and Ourselves.