The Trauma Within Our Knowledge Bundles

Abstract

Trauma holds a sacred space in the knowledge bundles of many Indigenous helpers, including myself.A knowledge bundle represents the knowledge that an individual holds within themselves. This bundleconsists of experiential knowledge, knowledge shared through teachings, and knowledge received throughgenetic memory. This article explores the potential trauma Indigenous social workers may face priorto practice, within post-secondary programs, and during practice. The literature written by Indigenoushelpers working alongside trauma in the field of social work provides incredibly valuable knowledge forcurrent helpers, as well as for students just beginning their journey into the social work field. How mightIndigenous helpers working within the field of social work care for the trauma they may carry within theirown knowledge bundles? This article examines how Indigenous helpers prepare to work with trauma,how they may navigate trauma within practice, and what happens after re-stimulation of traumatic events.