FOCUS
Every day, tribal nations and Native individuals interrupt and heal the effects of intergenerational historical trauma caused by past and present settler colonization. Melissa’s research focuses on how, when, and where these Native-led healing approaches occur. To explore and understand the particularities, she draws on community-based participatory Indigenous methodologies and takes an interdisciplinary approach since historical trauma involves multiple dimensions of health—biological, psychological, spiritual, physical, emotional, and cultural. Particularly, Melissa is interested in understanding and elevating Native approaches to healing the traumatic effects of settler colonialism that include (re)connection to ancestral homelands, knowledge, and cultural practices.
MORE ABOUT MELISSA
Melissa identifies as a biracial Métis/Anishinaabe and white woman, who is a product of settler colonization striving to heal her own historical trauma. Melissa brings a critical sociological perspective to Native health and healing. She believes that HPRS offers opportunities to translate her research in ways that have the potential to affect the day-to-day health and healing needs and desires of tribal communities.
