Indigenous Truth and Healing
Uplifting Indigenous Truth and Healing Globally
There is growing momentum toward raising and addressing issues of truth and healing in Indigenous communities in North America and around the world. Indigenous peoples’ survival is not only connected to the rights and land, but also to their healing traditions which have persisted and adapted for centuries.
Think Peace provides peer learning spaces with Indigenous peoples across the world for comparative analysis and cross-cultural connections which promote Indigenous-led truth and healing modalities. These may take the form of traditional ceremonies embedded within a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as is the case for the Sami Indigenous People or may be contextualized forms of Internal Family Systems or psychosocial support.
Sámi
The Sámi are the last living indigenous people in Europe. Think Peace Co-Executive Director Antti Pentikainen supported the Sámi Truth and Reconciliation process in his previous position as Special Envoy for the Prime Minister of Finland. After its launch, Antii has continued to accompany the process by supporting mediation training and facilitating connections and learning among Sámi and other indigenous communities on indigenous healing practices. Think Peace also works with Giéllagas Institute on Sámi culture and language at Oulu University in Finland.
UNPFII
Think Peace supports the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) by initiating a working group dedicated to gathering lessons learned and best practices from peace processes and transitional justice endeavors involving indigenous communities. Think Peace also serve as external experts for the group and have organized multiple side events during the annual UNPFII meetings.
North America
Led by Donald Laverdure (Crow / Ojibwe) and Kristen Burge (Filipina), we partner with Arrow Creek Wellness to accompany Indigenous, First Nations, and tribal communities in the United States and Canada through contextualized trainings utilizing various healing modalities, including Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, and Indigenous practices. Rooted in Indigenous knowledge, this work provides mental health and psychosocial training and services in support of Indigenous communities.