we might have been told that we are at fault, that we are responsible for the trauma we experienced. this is the viewpoint of the colonial systems. however, the truth is that the roots of trauma stem from a much larger pattern of disempowerment, subjugation, and violence woven throughout the fabric of our society.

while societal frameworks can grant us a great deal of material and "earthly" power, we each also carry with us our own source of personal and communal power. experiences of trauma can disconnect us from our power source. understanding oppression and the impact of colonial systems puts us on the path to reclaim our inherent ways of knowing. our view starts to shift back to seeing ourselves as powerful (perhaps for the first time) and we start to reconnect with our inner source of power.   

colonial frameworks and ways of being have very real, tangible effects on our lives. they effect how we access and operate in the world, how we see ourselves, how we form relationships and connect with community. as more and more silenced voices gain access to the microphone, the tapestry of disempowerment of some and empowerment of others becomes easier to see. recognizing the ways these systems impact our sense of self and our relationships is a powerful step toward a self-determined path.

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