We really
need to talk about our mental health. As I quote from “@Yllwhrseblackfoot VIA
TIKTOK” We really need to talk about our mental health. It drives him crazy
that our mental health is so stigmatized in our indigenous communities. Where
we so busy trying to not do anything wrong trying, to not look bad in anyone else’s
eyes. He says we as indigenous people will deny ourselves the things that we
need based on what others think about us. He further says, if you have people
around you who are suffering from mental health, go and check on them, asking
them how they're doing. They might say “F#(K you” I I’m not crazy! Yet, they’ll
know you're there. Conversely, we as indigenous peoples got to speak about our
own mental health. He says we must talk about
our struggles. Normalize are struggles. Letting others know how hard this can
be because it will find out that there's others that are going through a week
go through. The more we talk about these struggles the less strange it'll be to
talk about mental health in our communities. He further says, we must trust
each other, our friends would rather hear from us, and we hear from them. We as indigenous people would much rather hear
about each other’s mental health speaking about our mental stuff than not being
here anymore.
Metaphorically
speaking, I apply this the mental health of victims of sexual violence. We need
to talk about victim struggles. We need to find safe and secure place. Finding
a support group is vital in fighting and healing from sexual violence.
Conversely saying, when a child is too young to understand, no matter how much
skills or advice we are truly believing we're giving them. Normalizing mental
health and letting our youth know there is support systems in place. However,
it's up to us as adults it to give guidance and make a secure space where they
can thrive in a very positive supportive manner.
Healing from
trauma, either childhood trauma or adult trauma, mental health isn't like the
flu. Where you take a pill, drink plenty of water, and lots of rest with the
next day feeling much better. Healing from mental health requires guidance
support patience courage and integrity in knowing that we cannot be hard on
ourselves. We must love ourselves enough to be patient and understand that the
healing process we'll take whatever time it needs to take.
The analogy
is Metaphorically speaking, imagine you have a broken leg and that you need to
walk a mile with this broken leg. It's this struggle of walking with a broken
leg for one mile to get help. Time and patience to reach your goal. Again,
don't be hard on yourself, there are others who have walked this mile and are
willing to support you in your efforts to heal from this emotional pain.
In my own
healing journey, I’ve reflected many a time on my ancestors. Their journey of
recovery and relapse with no mental support. Constantly being told they were
worthless, savages, drunks, and basically invisible and not human beings. I’ve
thought of seeing them pray. Praying for me, their children and their families
and communities that’s given me strength. People ask me how I knew who Nathan Chasing
Horse was so early on when others were in denial of his behavior. I believe its
because I experienced the prayer of those who came before me. The hundreds of
years of genocide to make me, birthed me, grew me, and celebrated love and
celebrated life with me.
Many who were
sexually assaulted took time, fighting and healing from their trauma. Taking time
to recover, relapsing from self-harm took patience and forgiveness on their
behalf.
To the victims
of Nathan Chasing Horse, whom over these decades have read my blog, thank you.
It’s through your courage that this monster was caught.
Now that you’ve
taken this path, this journey, there is no turning back. How can we, when we
know that there are so many others depending on us.
Wopida
Mitakuya Oyasin… “Making relationships, being a good relative…… We are all related.”
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