Psychological Impacts of Historic Loss and Current Events Surrounding American Indian Boarding Schools.

Abstract

Historic loss and historic loss-associated symptoms were examined in a cross-section of 60 American Indian and Alaska Native students attending a Native American serving college that is also a former Indian boarding school. To measure awareness of current events regarding finding unmarked graves at boarding schools, authors developed and used the Truth and Reconciliation Scale. Levels of self-compassion were assessed in participants to determine if there was a correlation between negative feelings towards oneself and psychological risk factors brought forth as a result of how aware students were of current events surrounding former Indian boarding schools. Self-compassion was predicted to act as a protective factor and a positive coping mechanism for those most impacted by historic loss and intergenerational trauma. Participants reported thinking about, and being psychologically impacted by, historic loss. Psychological impacts were stronger in participants who were more aware of current reconciliation efforts and those who had higher levels of negative thoughts towards themselves. This suggests the possibility that current events, such as the finding of unmarked graves at former Indian boarding schools, might be increasing trauma responses in current students. Working to reduce negative thoughts about self and increase self-compassion may help buffer the negative impacts of the current truth and reconciliation work. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to engage in more research and practice exploring the potential benefits of self-compassion for those adversely affected by historic loss, thus improving the likelihood of cultural revitalization from a broad perspective.