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. 2012 May;102 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S177-83.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300511. Epub 2012 Mar 8.

Wicasa Was'aka: restoring the traditional strength of American Indian boys and men

Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart  1 , Jennifer Elkins, Greg Tafoya, Doreen Bird, Melina Salvador
Affiliations

Wicasa Was'aka: restoring the traditional strength of American Indian boys and men

Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart et al. Am J Public Health. 2012 May.

Abstract

We examined health disparities among American Indian men and boys within the framework of historical trauma, which incorporates the historical context of collective massive group trauma across generations. We reviewed the impact of collective traumatic experiences among Lakota men, who have faced cross-generational challenges to enacting traditional tribal roles. We describe historical trauma-informed interventions used with two tribal groups: Lakota men and Southwestern American Indian boys. These two interventions represent novel approaches to addressing historical trauma and the health disparities that American Indians face. We offer public health implications and recommendations for strategies to use in the planning and implementation of policy, research, and program development with American Indian boys and men.

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