INTEGRATING CULTURE: HISTORICAL TRAUMA AND HEALING
This chapter aims to provide a basic understanding of historical trauma in Tribal communities. While there are many approaches to understanding traumas and addressing traumas, this section reflects some of the important work taking place on the Menominee Indian Reservation.
Community Engagement
Community Engagement on the Menominee Indian Reservation is a physical gathering of all the community’s local departments on a quarterly basis. Community Engagement is led by the Menominee Indian School District and Menominee Tribal Clinic with support from the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Menominee County, and College of Menominee Nation. Local grassroots groups, religious institutions, and local businesses are supportive, as well. Community Engagement gatherings were created in response to the Menominee County’s rankings in the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report. Menominee County ranks as the least healthy county in all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties every year since 2011. The purpose of the meetings is to prioritize community health and related issues and form collaborative work teams to develop concrete plans to address them. There are benefits to working collaboratively on health and community issues. First, Community Engagement meetings are an opportunity for departments to share information and learn about other projects in the community. Through this sharing, they are building understanding of each other and resources available. Second, by working collaboratively, groups can pool resources and use them more effectively, thereby reaching more people. It is understood that issues affect the community and not a specific department. Issues are complex and it takes a comprehensive approach with a mix of professionals and community members to effect change. Third, intentional planning using tools similar to logic models clearly identifies goals, resources, and assigns responsibilities. There is a visual representation of the work and of the team. Last, the reporting process used by facilitators provides a level of accountability. At each meeting, teams are required to give their peers updates on progress. All progress is celebrated communally. As it related to Indigenous food sovereignty projects, Community Engagement has connected staff directly involved with food and nutrition to grassroots leaders and other community members with interest in food sovereignty. Collaborative projects that have formed because of Community Engagement include sharing agriculture equipment, community kitchen planning, and community seed distribution planning. Through Community Engagement, work is shared broadly throughout the community with opportunities for expanded partnership building.
What are major social issues your community is facing?
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