Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency – new Master of Social Work program launched at U of T – UofT
Jan 31, 2017
Social worker Lisa Charleson works with families struggling with addiction, domestic violence – even suicide – and much of that pain can be traced back to the residential school system, she says.
When Charleson, who is Nuu-chah-nulth from Vancouver Island’s west coast, learned U of T was launching a new master of social work program devoted to Indigenous trauma and resiliency, she consulted an elder.
“He told me, ‘Well, long ago when our people were still intact…if there was a dilemma, they would send their people out to get medicine to help solve that dilemma,’” Charleson says.
“So I tend to think of it, that that’s what I’m doing. I’m coming here, and I’m being open-minded to see what’s going to work, what’s going to help save our young people from feeling so hopeless.”
