title: Wicasa Was'aka: restoring the traditional strength of American Indian boys and men.
abstract: We examined health disparities among American Indian men and boys within the framework of historical trauma, which incorporates the historical context of collective massive group trauma across generations. We reviewed the impact of collective traumatic experiences among Lakota men, who have faced cross-generational challenges to enacting traditional tribal roles.  We describe historical trauma-informed interventions used with two tribal groups: Lakota men and Southwestern American Indian boys. These two interventions represent novel approaches to addressing historical trauma and the health disparities that American Indians face.  We offer public health implications and recommendations for strategies to use in the planning and implementation of policy, research, and program development with American Indian boys and men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Center for Rural and Community Behavioral Health, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA. mbraveheart@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: Maria Yellow Horse
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Brave Heart
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elkins
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tafoya
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: Melina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvador
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D012940:Social Problems; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016549:United States Indian Health Service / Q000458:organization & administration; D055815:Young Adult