The Healing is in the Pain

Five Māori women from one tribal community in Aotearoa/New Zealand narrated their stories of multi-generational legacies of historical trauma. Although psychological/spiritual trauma effects remain for these women, consciousness of trauma in these narratives was seen in a positive light as opportunities for healing. Three connected trauma acts were narrated. The process of narrating trauma histories in this study was ultimately construed as an exercise in self-determination through the re-empowerment of their voices and visions. The trauma and pain of their histories has not departed. However, the power of telling their stories creates access to healing through the achievement of consciousness of the impacts of history on shaping current realities, testimony about the resilience of previous generations and knowledge of the strategies previous generations employed to survive the brutalising effects of colonisation. The potential for healing through reclaiming new and more hopeful narratives was identified as a powerful tool to finally lay the pain of the past to rest. The healing value and potential of revisiting, re-examining and re-envisioning trauma histories under colonisation is being woven into the landscape of historical trauma theory-development, itself a healing endeavour. This study was part of a larger study on the relationship between healing from historical trauma, tribal self-determination and suicide prevention in one hapū/sub-tribe. This article focuses on the process of narrating historical trauma as a starting point for healing.