Ecological and Social Healing by Jeanine M. Canty

Ecological and Social Healing by Jeanine M. Canty

Author:Jeanine M. Canty
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2016-10-03T16:00:00+00:00


Nícola’s Story: Inter-cultural Sharing and Healing

I grew up in a very small post-holocaust Jewish community in Colombia, where I lived the first 20 years of my life. As a third generation descendant of survivors of the Jewish holocaust, I have done a lot of research and process around what it means to be a third generation descendant, how the trauma has been passed down to me through the generations, and whether I could and how I could heal and transform it. Through my doctoral research I learned that, as a third generation descendant, I feel guilt and shame around healing and transforming the trauma—because it could mean that I am betraying and leaving my ancestors behind. After all, the main message that I heard growing up was that I needed to remember, that I could not forget what had happened. In part because of fear that it could happen again, but in a big part, and what is not talked about, because of the belief that to heal and move on means we are leaving behind those that suffered and sacrificed their lives for us.

One of the main learnings that I come away with from this work is that there is not a pure way or a right way to be and to connect with our ancestors and traditions. Although it feels taboo to say it, I believe that recognizing this is essential for our liberation. We have the power to decide, to experiment, to create and co-create, and connect in the way that is the most helpful to us. In my work to heal inter-generational trauma I called my ancestors, and some of them showed up to support me in my journey. I was afraid that my ancestors were angry at me because I was choosing a different path than the traditional one I was supposed to take. I felt guilty. Nonetheless, I have been pleasantly surprised and immensely appreciative to be able to connect with ancestors that want the best for me and support me in wanting to heal, transform, and follow my own path in a fully empowered and distinct way. I realize that as we do this work we also provide healing to them. Together we co-create and transform.

As part of the inter-generational trauma that was passed down, the other messages that I received have been that I need to be pure, that I should not mix with others, that I should stick to my tribe, that I needed to fear the other, that I was superior, that I was inferior, that the suffering of our people made us special, and that as a woman my job was to stay and marry in the tribe. However, I believe that in order to heal I need to connect and build bridges with “the other.” My healing deeply depends on that.

As part of this youth project, we held a workshop where we presented and dialogued on historical trauma. Melissa talked about it from the Native perspective and I shared from my Jewish perspective.



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