What Is Your Role

Today’s Teachings Tuesday comes from someone many of you know and hold deep respect for: our mentor, Jenn Smith of Tlowitsis First Nation.

Many in our community are familiar with the story of her late Auntie Maggie, whose life and legacy have been generously shared through Jenn's teachings and storytelling. Recently, Jenn experienced another profound loss: her cousin, Maggie’s son.

Jenn reached out in the midst of her grief, wanting to gently unravel some of what was coming up for her as she began to process this loss. It is an honour to hold space for her words, and I’m grateful she trusts this community enough to share them here.

As you read, I invite you to move slowly. To feel what comes up. And to hold Jenn and her family in your thoughts.

---

We are grieving another loss in our family.

My Auntie Maggie’s eldest son, Norman, and third child lost to trauma, in such a short time.

He worked hard. He had plans, hopes and dreams.

With each passing, I've been reflecting more deeply on the weight of Indigenous trauma and breaking cycles.

I share this as part of my own healing, in honor of those we’ve lost too soon and to lift up Indigenous resilience.

Rest easy, cousin Norman. You are free.

The Emotional Journey of Healing Intergenerational Trauma

Understanding the Roots of Indigenous Trauma

Colonialism is the root of Indigenous trauma. The journey of breaking deeply rooted cycles of intergenerational trauma is both a powerful and a painful one.

The Process of Healing

Trauma is not just a memory; it lives in the body and has the power to pass from generation to generation. To heal it, someone has to feel it.

Healing demands that we become aware of its presence, notice and name it, and ultimately release it so it does not get carried forward. This is the essence of cycle breaking.

To create lasting, positive change across generations and heal our own traumas, cycle breakers choose to do things differently. This often involves establishing personal boundaries to support growth and transformation. Although it’s positive, it’s often painful.

The Emotional Reality of Healing

As Indigenous healing unfolds and the burden of colonial harm starts to lift, intergenerational trauma does not quietly fade away. Instead, it is predominantly experienced as grief and loss. It can feel like a tidal wave.

While our loved ones are forced to numb their pain to survive, we must choose to face it. The pain of facing it hurts, but cycle-breaking requires us to feel what others could not.

Healing intergenerational trauma is not only for us, but for our ancestors, our relatives who are suffering, and for future generations.

In this healing, there is anger, deep sadness, and exhaustion.

We watch the people we love struggle and fade. It stays with us. But so does this knowing—when they become ancestors, they are whole and at peace.

Self-Care and Continued Healing

Self-care is crucial when navigating the powerful waves of intergenerational trauma.

Healing isn’t linear; it’s a continual journey. We must be intentional about self-care and keep going.

Resilience and Reconciliation

As an Indigenous person, I carry a responsibility to heal.

This is how we end colonial cycles. This is how we protect future generations.

Indigenous healing is resilience. It is the foundation of Truth and Reconciliation.

What is your role?

Gilakas’la,

Jenn Smith

Tlowitsis Nation

Jenn, thank you for trusting us with your heart, your grief, and your teachings.

Your words remind us that healing is not abstract—it is lived, felt, and often carried alongside deep loss. They call us to reflect not only on the weight of intergenerational trauma, but on the responsibility and courage it takes to break those cycles.

To our community—this is the work. To witness. To feel. To stay.

If this stirred something in you, I invite you to sit with that. To reflect on your role, as Jenn so powerfully asks.

We are here, together.

In learning,

Kim