For the third year in a row, HealthierHere staff, board members, board member alternates, and committee members had the opportunity to participate in Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization. This training and community organizing initiative developed by the Industrial Areas Foundation focuses on the impacts and history of relationships between dominant society and Indigenous Peoples; it aims to eliminate systemic barriers in current dominant structures by creating conditions that protect and expand Indigenous sovereignty while creating racial equity for all.  

Over the course of three weeks, participants engage in educational activities – from small group discussions to connecting with the land and engaging with oral histories, videos, and more. These activities help us to uncover and face colonization’s harmful historical relationships, policies, procedures, and cultural, and their ongoing realities. Participants are encouraged to explore their own family histories and relationships to settler colonialism and continue “wrestling” with these truths in their lives and relationships after the training.

The learnings and recommended actions from the initiative continue to inform HealthierHere’s work around equity, decolonization, and anti-racism. In the spirit of ongoing contemplation and commitment to action, we asked HealthierHere’s staff to reflect on their experiences with the training. See their responses below.

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What was an “aha” moment or transformative experience you had during the training, and how did it impact you?

The recognition of how we all benefit from colonization even today in ways that I had not previously considered.  For example, the "American Dream" of homeownership when we can't own something that was stolen and the land isn't something to be "owned" rather, the land, air, water, trees, etc. are relatives that care for us as we care for them.
‍– Marya Gingrey, Chief Equity & Strategy Officer

Learning about specifics of all the treaties and how they were weaponized and still haven't been made right.
– Hannah Borneman, Referral Specialist

Realizing how recent the trauma is for our indigenous communities throughout North America. Hearing personal experiences with the sixties scoop and boarding schools was very impactful.
‍- Anonymous

The biggest thing that has stuck with me from the training is that colonization is not something that happened in the past. Colonization is ongoing today and there are people who continue to benefit and people who continue to suffer because of it.
‍– Madelyn Devoe, Care Coordination System Transformation Manager

I was torn open by the realization that even though I had direct experience with racial discrimination from the mainstream owing to my Korean ancestry, I was still an "aspiring settler" living on and benefitting from indigenous peoples' lands.
‍- Anonymous

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What is something new you learned in the training that you are applying in your daily work and/or personal life?

I have increased my awareness of how the impact of historical trauma continues to contribute to the adverse outcomes that we see today.  I am continually amazed by resilience that is rooted in being the wildest dreams of your ancestors and I carry the responsibility of being a good ancestor for future generations.
– Marya Gingrey, Chief Equity and Strategy Officer

The importance of acknowledging local places in their original language, like Duwamish vs dxʷdəwʔabš
‍– Hannah Borneman, Referral Specialist

Being more empathetic and understanding, pausing and not making snap judgements about people.
‍- Anonymous

I learned about the importance of understanding more about the Tribe and people whose land I occupy. I have educated myself on the Suquamish tribe and continue to stay up to date on their monthly newsletters via a reminder on my calendar.
‍– Madelyn Devoe, Care Coordination System Transformation Manager

Learning about how systems built to colonize indigenous peoples have grown and developed to "other" people of color from all over the world has inspired me to learn more about the model and to better understand the ways that racial discrimination hides in plain sight.
‍- Anonymous

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We look forward to continuing to apply the lessons and calls-to-action from this training across HealthierHere’s efforts. HealthierHere extends our gratitude to the training leaders Miskanahk Iskwew and Riley Irish and, HealthierHere’s Community and Tribal Engagement Manager Abriel Johnny, and others who have developed and guided so many of us through this training.

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