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Cultivating Resilience


Apr 5, 2022

One way trauma grows in the Native American child is through schooling. Native American children attend either schools made up primarily of Native students, or they attend U.S. public schools with the potential for more of a mixed population. As we’ll learn during the interview, Native American children who attend U.S. public schools are often criticized for their silence. But their silence doesn’t reflect a lack of interest or knowledge, it’s culturally driven behavior. Native American children are often silent for two reasons: one, because they’re reflecting deeply on the topic under discussion, and two, they’re demonstrating respect for the thoughts of others, especially the teachers. Instead of being critical of them, we should see them for what they are. Holly Echo-Hawk, a behavioral health expert for the Pawnee Nation provides the details.