Scenarios and Processes

  LAST OF THE DOGMA - The Residential  School  Syndrome

The Residential School Syndrome is very much like the Stockholm Syndrome. 

 In my experience... my view - Many residential school survivors have bonded to the experience and speak of the value of this experience. Some speak of the officials who ran these Residential Schools and don’t recall any abuse. In some cases, some survivors found more "safety" in these schools, than their own homes. And this “home life” is a direct result of Residential Schools. Some will angrily insist that it was a good, even a wonderful experience!

In my work with Residential School survivors, most times, I have found a tremendous reluctance, to speak the releasing graphic truth about the atrocities, some for fear of opening terrifying wounds that would leave them helpless and disabled... just as they were as children. Others because they have experienced such strong shame in speaking out about "God" and "church"... from other Aboriginal people! Some victims have gone on to victimize others far away from the time of residential schools and have been so shamed, that they offer some of the strongest denial of any wrong doing by anyone!

 In order for some of these people to "let go" of this pain, they needed to be assured that I had a true understanding of their pain and a connection to them as a survivor of horrific abuse. I also had to assure them that I would be emotionally available and that they would have me "walk" with them through these "terrible hurtful" memories. I also, carefully explained, how and what would be specifically done to "close" the session as well. The follow-up and support is crucial, as already have stated... this would be written out and explained. The process started the day they were born. And for everyone... the healing starts just as soon as the people say to themselves... I want HELP!

It is my duty and commitment to take the greatest care and to keep the participant in constant contact with the process in the safest of manners and at the same time allowing full access to their emotional energy of their memories, events or situations.

 In my capacity as a trainer/therapist I have been going to many communities and making presentations and interviewing the workers and clients. In my work I have found, that that most, if not all of the psychologists, MSWs were far removed from many of the groups or factions of a community. As well, in my presentations on Experiential ReTraining... I found these professionals were against my program and I was told in confidence by many of the worker that these professionals were only close to certain groups in their community. I spoke very straight forward of reaching the "unreachable" and the issues of shame and how we needed to encourage these people to ask questions of all of us helpers. I further explained that we needed to develop the emotional capacity to allow this questioning. As well I explained that we needed to let the people know that we have had problems and that we have dealt with them. This allows for a less likelihood of shame overtaking their ability to work on their healing.

 It is a huge step for these professionals to open up their own painful pasts and problems in the present, especially when they are trying to help aboriginal people and they become overwhelmed with the magnitude of the problems we face. This is the strongest cause of reluctance to opening up to us, they cannot. They have a great reluctance to getting or receiving help for themselves, thus they remain aloof and sadly, unhealthy.

 The legacy of residential schools is so strong.  Survivors of these places suffer from Post - Traumatic - Stress Disorder and have learned to "cope" in various ways.  Some through denial of abuse or unlawful acts and some by being addicts or compulsive "actoing OUT or IN people.

The training is a long process and must be taken on carefully. With Experiential ReTraining - the peeling of the layers of dysfunction is safely monitored and that an aftercare or maintenance program will continue to keep the participant safe and sound following the program. The focus of the work is to one to be able to speak their truth safely: To resolve the energy of the emotions and the resulting negative behaviors. The gift is to end up doing this healing action, with resolution and flow into calmness and in harmony with others. To be able to express the emotional energy, to the extent, that the results are an acceptable calmness and an awareness of the true self, present time and place. This must attained to the balance of body, mind, heart, and spirit.

No doubt, care must also be taken in doing this deep emotional work. Assessing the level of support of all community resources and programs is crucial to the safety and continuing healing for all participants. Too many people have gone for treatment and / or gotten "help" from one of the many "traveling healers shows" and have been further damaged upon return to the "old environment" and become "re-traumatized". There are diverse options available for relief from the stresses and strains of living and working in communities overrun with the legacy of Residential Schools. It is ultimately up to people, to make any change possible. Without creating the safety of environment and process, change is going to remain slow and painful and deadly. This must be in place for the venting, or empowering, or learning, or behavior modification, or however you want to describe change. Because many other peoples, groups, communities and institutions / professions operate in their own dysfunction, this is a critical area in the re-integration of healing people.

 Manipulation, intimidation and abuse in their many forms must be addressed. Fear, stress, isolation and any other problems facing participants upon returning to their place of origin must be validated and addressed. These situations exist and are an embedded part of our everyday society, especially in close closed communities. We must develop the capacity to "hear" and "help" ourselves and empower others to "speak” of their fears and concerns, when it comes to healing at home.

 When there isn't questioning in and of an institution, such as the psychological system, this leads to all kinds of problems. Remember what was said of the residential schools and how child were terrorized, not just scared! The questions must be nurtured carefully through the group work. Although, my focus is on the psycho - logical system and how it affects Native Canadians this empowerment can address any oppression, from parent to spouse to institution. I believe the psycho-social-logical system operates from a dogma.  I refer to as the Residue of Residential Schools dogma - where you were taught - violently - do not to question authority or else! This very dogma has created a "stranglehold" on our mental and emotional health and on that of most of our administration and providers!

 Many of our own helpers are operating in this comfort zone - set by the psycho-social-logical system and this is why this system of healing and helping is so largely ineffective, as well in making a significant difference in raising our emotional-mental health levels. With this level of participation and the levels of unemployment, we will never see our way clear of the dysfunction created largely by the Residential Schools and the resulting lateral damage. Most of the people who work as administrators and helpers are inadvertently controlled by the psych-social-logical system. They, the helpers, have themselves, made this decision - consciously or subconsciously.

Many  Healers and helpers have done this because they don't want to lose anymore or suffer anymore than they already have. With the psychologists and even the master of social worker, it is because of their  forced acceptance of the (dogma) doctrine of archaic psychological teachings, which says that they must not share their personal stories because they will negatively influence clients! This is so convenient and just plain old self-protection on their part! This, without a doubt, creates such a barrier for The First Peoples / Aboriginal people / all people outside this group, who want and need to heal from the deep hurts and pains of oppression and the resulting lateral damage.