| Unresolved historical trauma resulting from colonization can be passed on generationally, impairing the mental and physical health of individuals and sustaining the oppressor/oppressed dynamic in American society. Employing an artistic-creative methodology, this thesis draws on a historical incident that took place on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to illustrate the intergenerational transmission of unresolved historical trauma, and how such trauma can affect descendants of both America's colonized and colonizers. The traumatic experience of colonization continues to negatively influence the lives of many living in the United States and the ongoing victim-perpetrator dynamic shapes how inhabitants view themselves, others, and the world they live in. The Native American population, in particular, appears to suffer disproportionally from the lingering effects of colonization. Allowing for a victim-perpetrator dynamic still active in America's collective soul can help therapists consider whether it has any bearing on a client's current psychological health. |
