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Termination Trawma
A recent study shows that past colonial policies still impact
the psychological and social well-being of Indian Country.
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By Oscar Johnson
The 1954 Termination Act which
ushered scores of bills terminating
U.S. recognition, relations and
treaty obligations with 61 Indian
tribes is more than just a blemish on
the history records.
"Termination Trauma," psycho
logical scars left in the aftermath of
the 'termination era' of the 1950s and
'60s, are still carried by many Na
tive Americans, according to a recent
independent study.
Trauma due to threats or experi
ences of physical harm, fear, hope
lessness or horror that came with
termination has left the majority of
those surveyed with varying degrees
of feelings of isolation, continued
fear, survivors guilt, anxiety, anger,
hostility and even nightmares, says
Dr. Tom Ball.
Trauma that he says statistics
show's passed on from one genera
tion to the next.
Ball is a researcher for the Oregon
Social Learning Center and former
chair of the Klamath Tribe who re
vealed his findings at the Affiliated
Tribes of Northwest Indians confer
ence in Grand Ronde last month.
"It's not just in the past, these sta
tistics show us that these things are
still bothering us today," says Ball.
A sample population of 98 Kla
math members including men and
women, old and young as well as
those living off and on the reserva
tion were surveyed on a variety of
experiences and their affects, includ
ing those related to termination.
The study revealed high rates of
Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder
(PTSD), which can cause someone
to relive a traumatic experience;
have symptoms such as hyperactiv
ity; and avoid circumstances which
bring the trauma to mind.
The statistics show 24 percent of
those surveyed suffered from full
PTSD some time in their life while
48 percent experienced partial
PTSD.
(The distinction between full and
partial PTSD denotes different
forms of the disorder more than les
sor or greater degrees, Ball says.)
The research also showed 11.2 per
cent of the Indians surveyed cur
rently suffer from clinical symptoms
of full PTSD and 15.3 percent of par
tial PTSD, Ball says.
When compared to a
similar survey of a
non-Indian population
in Winnipeg, Canada,
showing 2 percent and
1.9 percent respectively
for full and partial PTSD,
the rate looks even worse.
"That's one-fourth of that tribal
sample currently suffering from
PTSD," says Ball. "And none of them
are receiving any mental health
treatment."
Ball says there is also a connec
tion between these symptoms and
high rates of violence, drug and al
cohol abuse and unemployment.
He notes that 100 percent of those
showing signs of PTSD were unem
ployed. Ball also draws a correlation be
tween deeply embedded emotions
such as anger and guilt with what
he calls "internalized oppression"
and "self hate" and says it is often
expressed in substance abuse and
violence to others who remind ag
gressors of themselves.
Ball believes the solution is to treat
L
Dr. Tom Ball, Oregon Social
Learning Center researcher and
former Klamath tribal chair, out
lined his Termination Trauma sur
vey showing the lasting affects of
colonial policies on Native Ameri
cans during last month's ATNI
conference at SMC.
the root cause of such problems.
He argues that the answer lies in
mental health treatment but not just
from the perspective of modern west
ern medicine.
"This is a major mental health
problem," says Ball. "We need to
validate the problem. We need to
look at our traditional methods of
healing in a historical context."
Oregon Native American Week celebrated at State Capitol
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For the third year in a row, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber proclaimed the third week in
May to be "Native American Week" in Oregon. The signing of the proclamation coincided
with Tribal Information Day at the capital in Salem on May 20. Here, Governor Kitzhaber
poses with Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chair Kathryn Harrison (right), and her good friend,
Cecelia (Charley) Bearchum of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla. Harrison and Bearchum
have known each other for most of their lives, ever since they were classmates at Chemawa
Indian School. Left: Ali Holsclaw, Jr. Miss Grand Ronde, and Halona Butler, Miss Tiny Tot,
represented the Tribe at the Information Day. Photos by Tracy Dugan
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