Traditional and Indigenous Perspectives on Healing Trauma With Psychedelic Plant Medicines
Christine Diindiisi Mccleave, Susan Beaulieu, Rainbow Lopez, Joseph Tafur
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction April 1, 2024 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1007/s11469-024-01252-w via Springer Nature
Summary
Indigenous experts, students, and practitioners from North America discuss the historical context of colonialism and the Psychedelic Renaissance, the duality of Spirit and science, challenges faced by Indigenous people in psychedelic spaces, and culture's role in healing trauma. They examine harms inflicted on Indigenous Peoples, conflicting worldviews between Indigenous cultures and dominant Western culture, and differing scientific and economic paradigms. The commentary also analyzes colonization's effects on relationships with one another and with entheogenic plant medicines.
Study at a glance
| Design | commentary |
|---|---|
| Population | Indigenous experts, students, and practitioners from North America |
| Key finding | Colonization has harmed Indigenous Peoples and created conflicting worldviews and values systems that affect relationships with entheogenic plant medicines and healing trauma. |
Abstract
This article reflects the commentary of Indigenous experts, students, and practitioners from North America. Topics discussed include the historical context of colonialism and the Psychedelic Renaissance, duality of Spirit and science, the challenges of being an Indigenous person in psychedelic spaces, and the role of culture in healing trauma. The authors expand upon topics such as the harms inflicted upon Indigenous Peoples, conflicting worldviews and values systems between Indigenous Peoples’ cultures and the dominant Western culture, and the differences in scientific and economic paradigms. The authors also analyze the effects of colonization on our relationships with one another and with these entheogenic plant medicines.