Audra Foggin, a Sixties Scoop survivor who teaches social work at Mount Royal University (MRU), believes the best way to unlock understanding and healing surrounding intergenerational trauma is through inclusive, open conversation.
The assistant professor says these conversations need to expand well beyond Indigenous communities. This helps Indigenous people return to their roots and not be defined solely by the trauma and abuse of the past.
“I look at my sons and they have suffered from pieces of intergenerational trauma but they are stronger than it. They are out there at law school doing great things. They understand where they are from, they are looking for solutions to Indigenous social issues and they are proud of who they are. They know who they are because I have made that effort to reconnect them.”
Listen to the podcast here:
Veronica Marlowe, a social work student at MRU, agrees conversations are critical but explains they come with risk.
“These conversations can be triggering or it can be healing; it depends on the person,” Marlowe says, adding “These conversations can often lead to self-awareness of trauma that we didn’t even know existed.”
Infographic by Sarah Green
In this podcast, Marlowe, Foggin and Plains Cree elder, Alvin Manitopyes discuss the role of resilience in facing intergenerational trauma.
In partnership with the Iniskim Centre at Mount Royal University, the Calgary Journal presents ‘Raising Reconciliation’ — a series of podcasts and news stories focused on increasing understanding of Indigenous stories that matter.
Editor: Rayane Sabbagh | rsabbagh@cjournal.ca