Generational Trauma and Depression in Native Communities: Stories of Healing and Hope

Generational trauma leaves deep scars that ripple through families, cultures, and communities. For Native American communities, centuries of systemic oppression, land loss, and forced assimilation through boarding schools created wounds that continue to affect mental health today.

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Oneida Nation member Mark Powless shares his lived experience of how historical trauma has shaped his family, his community, and his own mental health. From the painful legacy of boarding schools to the challenges of substance abuse, anger, and mistrust passed down through generations, Mark offers an honest look at inherited trauma — and the long road to healing.

He also discusses how reconnecting with Indigenous traditions, raising his own sons with awareness, and engaging in cultural healing practices like the sweat lodge are helping to break harmful cycles and bring hope for the future.

This powerful conversation sheds light on the connection between generational trauma and depression, while showing that healing is possible through acknowledgment, cultural pride, and resilience.

Links to more information, provided by Mark:
Oneida Nation Website  https://oneida-nsn.gov/
Resources Mark recommends to learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Sky-Woman-Lives-Roberta-Capasso/dp/1483443469
https://www.amazon.com/Boarding-School-Seasons-American-1900-1940/dp/0803264054
Healing the Soul Wound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKVTzJYyyRY

Primary Topics Covered:

• What generational and historical trauma means in Native communities
• The link between depression, substance abuse, and inherited pain
• Boarding schools and their lasting impact on Indigenous families
• How silence and shame perpetuate trauma through generations
• The role of anger and mistrust in community dynamics
• Substance abuse as a coping mechanism for trauma
• Hair and culture as central to Native identity and resilience
• Parenting while addressing generational trauma
• Indigenous healing practices, including sweat lodges
• Why healing requires patience, compassion, and community support

Timestamps:
 00:00 – Introduction to the episode and hosts
 01:07 – Why this episode was re-released for Native American Heritage Month
 01:47 – Understanding trauma and its impact on identity and safety
 03:22 – Guest introduction: Mark Powless on generational trauma
 03:42 – Growing up on the Oneida Reservation and what felt “normal”
 04:34 – Realizing the historical roots of current struggles
 05:14 – Pain and trauma still present in Native communities
 05:41 – Boarding schools and their cultural destruction
 06:19 – Disconnection from language, family, and traditions
 07:18 – How elders’ silence perpetuated pain and mistrust
 08:14 – Alcoholism and substance use as generational coping mechanisms
 08:43 – Defining historical trauma and its effects
 09:10 – The cultural importance of hair and identity
 09:47 – How a modern school policy triggered generational pain
 10:32 – Trauma reactivation and its emotional impact
 11:20 – Personal reflections on his great-grandfat

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.com
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/