‘Tell your truth; now is the time’: mental health therapist helps those with inner trauma

“It’s not your fault. You didn’t create this. It’s okay to speak your truth; now is the time,” she tells paNOW.

Naytowhow, 59, is based in Prince Albert and also offers counselling and addictions help to residents of Pelican Lake and at the Sturgeon Lake healing lodge.

She went to residential school in P.A. between the ages of six and eleven and has many relatives who also experienced and survived the strict, unforgiving methods in those church-run buildings.

(Glenn Hicks/paNOW Staff)

“I guess I understand what’s happening inside for [survivors], the common [experiences] we all had at residential school,” she says.

Violet Naytowhow gives some simple and powerful advice. (Submitted Video)

For Naytowhow, the discovery of the remains of the 215 children found by ground-penetrating radar at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. last month has heightened the need for people to seek healing through traditional and cultural means. She sees a surge whenever the wounds are re-opened, and also when there is a round of financial compensation for victims of past injustices.

“It seems they [government] throws a bunch of money at people and that doesn’t address the underlying issues,“ she says. “For some, it creates even more issues because they’re already struggling. Some people can’t manage the money and it’s just really difficult.”

Challenges of belief systems

Naytowhow reflects, tragically, that it came as no surprise to her the human remains were found in B.C. She says she’s followed the research and the repeated claims and concerns of Elders about the many truths that have yet to be told about the dark chapter in Canadian history.

She finds while some people turn to traditional and cultural means to try to free themselves of the trauma ‘that is tying them down’, others find their attachment to established religion is a big obstacle.

“They’re stuck in that religion, they’re afraid to let that go. They were taught a religion that was scary and punishing, [but] real Christians are not like that,” she says. ” The ones who won’t open up to the cultural ways were told their culture was evil and from the devil.”

Hope and the future

But there is always hope for the future according to Naytowhow. She says the younger generation is much more open to the traditional and cultural ways because she figures many are tired of the so-called established belief systems that don’t work for them.

“They’re more eager to learn. They want to have a sense of identity and pride in something to bring them to who they are. In addictions treatment centres there’s a holistic component for people dealing with their trauma that uses culture to help with the spiritual aspects,” she says. “It also makes them stronger; to belong all of a sudden.”

She reveals—with some pride—she has been sober for 33 years now. She has written and performed music that speaks to tradition and culture and the trauma faced by Indigenous people. She will sometimes incorporate her music into therapy sessions.

Violet Naytowhow’s Stilletos to Moccasins.

She also performed in a stage play about residential schools, in which she played the role of the ‘alcoholic mother.’ She reflects on that with an ironic laugh, perhaps highlighting that ‘speak your truth’ advice she’s so keen to give.

Despite the serious and difficult work she does, Naytowhow exudes a confident and positive outlook that she wants to share with others.

“There’s lots of services available nowadays: lots of Indigenous counsellors, mental health therapists, NNADAP (National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program) workers, and even if they want to see an Elder…they can get help,” she explains.

She also notes a good place for those to seek info and professional assistance regarding their time at residential schools is through the special resolution, health and support service offered by the Prince Albert Grand Council.

With some defiance Naytowhow reflects on the traditions, culture and spirit she and others kept alive despite their harrowing experiences in residential schools.

“What isn’t known is how we’re all resilient in spite of that [experience]. At nighttime, us kids would talk Cree to each other when the supervisors weren’t around to punish you. That way we remembered. Culture is embedded within the language. We were able to maintain our language, our understanding, our beliefs.”

For more local stories celebrating National Indigenous History Month and Peoples Day click here.

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glenn.hicks@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow

by Glenn Hicks

‘Tell your truth; now is the time’: mental health therapist helps those with inner trauma

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