Trauma and Resilience in the Lives of Contemporary Native Americans: Reclaiming our Balance, Restoring our Wellbeing

By: Hilary N. Weaver

 

Introduction and Chapter 1: Examining the Impact of Trauma 

Book Review: Trauma and Resilience in the Lives of Contemporary Native Americans is a book written by Hilary N. Weaver, a Lakota woman who is coming from the perspective of an Indigenous social worker. Within the introduction of Weaver’s book, she does an excellent job at setting the foundation of how trauma had affected Native people’s livelihood. In this introduction, Weaver defines key terminology from a Native perspective such as usage of the words Native, Native American, American Indian, Indigenous, and historical trauma. In chapter one, Weaver divides into discussing key concepts such Native people’s world view, major effects by historical trauma, and the ability for Native to preserve through these inequalities. This book is an excellent read for those who are interested in dividing deep into how historical trauma can affect Native peoples as an individual, family, community, or tribe. I would recommend this book to be read at a scholarly intro level, meaning there are some dense areas that may be tough to read due to scholarly writing, however for the most part the writing is to the understanding of a public audience. I would suggest this reading to those who are upper class students in high school, undergraduate students, graduate students, and people who work at the professional level.