Understanding one First Nations community's ways of healing from historical trauma

First Nations peoples possess a rich history by which they have demonstrated strength and resilience. Colonization functions as cultural trauma that dismantles Indigenous cultural resources, thereby creating and sustaining health disparities, so effective intervention must treat historical/cultural trauma. First Nations communities were healthy and thriving before colonial contact, and these enduring strengths provide the foundation for culturally grounded interventions to restore balance and vitality to daily life in alignment with traditional cultural values.

Five focus groups were conducted among adult community members of one First Nations community in Canada (N = 34). A community advisory board composed of traditional healers, tribal council members, tribal health care workers, and other community members was established and consulted throughout the study.

Focus group participants discussed key cultural elements for healing from historical trauma. Participants outlined cultural strengths that can be important to incorporate into treatment (e.g., Indigenous spirituality, traditional practices, and cultural identity) and described how cultural strengths and community facilitate healing.

The results of this study highlight the importance of collaborating with Indigenous communities to identify treatment targets and processes as well as underscore the need to honor Indigenous ways of knowing and healing by adopting a community-driven holistic approach. This work was carried out to cocreate an intervention focused on healing from historical trauma, with an emphasis on addressing hazardous alcohol use through Indigenous-led, culturally grounded approaches. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).