Is PTSD Different for Native Veterans?
The psychological, physiological, and behavioral manifestations of PTSD are different for each individual trauma survivor and are dependent upon the life experiences and the social world of the trauma survivor. Therefore, to under stand how PTSD affects American Indian and Alaska Native veterans, families, and communities, we must consider each veteran's unique personal, social, and cultural experiences.
The following sections highlight common situations and issues that Native American veterans experienced during and after military service:
- Prejudice and stigma
- Moral compromise
- No Homecoming
Each is described further below.
Prejudice and stigma
The trauma of war may have been worsened by encounters with racial or cultural prejudice during or since the military. Native traditions and history often prepared veterans for military service as an honor and sacred duty. Many became disillusioned when they encountered prejudice and disrespect in the military. Due to their somewhat similar physical appearance, American Indian and Alaska Native veterans were, at times, mistaken for the enemy. Such experiences not only made the traumas of war more terrifying, but they were also a betrayal of personal trust.
Moral compromise
War often forces or leads soldiers to violate their own ethical rules or spiritual beliefs. For some Native veterans, past failure to uphold these moral standards feels like a failure that can never be made right. Past killing of civilians--including women, children, and elders--can be a source of terrible shame and guilt for some. In addition, such experiences are reminders of the brutality that many American Indian and Alaska Native peoples experienced in the past.
"When I got back, I was ashamed of what I did, because ... even our own people, as we walked down the hallways ... they'd whisper to us ... "Baby killers", "junkies"... And to this day, I still feel that guilt. And I felt like I did something terrible."
No homecoming
Tribal practices and beliefs honor the warrior's path as a courageous and selfless way to serve and protect the entire community. Tribal practices honor and serve the veteran warrior in an equally important way--they welcome the warrior home with cleansing ceremonies to enable him or her to resume a peaceful and dignified role in the community. Some Native veterans either were not offered or felt they could not accept such healing after Vietnam.
"I got home and oddly enough, ... they didn't really shun me, but [it] seemed like they were always scared or apprehensive to be around me. It made me real uncomfortable. I felt really like I didn't belong there anymore. And yet that was my home. And so, I tried to talk to some of 'em about it, and see why they were treating me that way. And finally, one of the ladies that lived a couple blocks down from me said, "Well, a lot of people think that you're a baby murderer and you murdered civilians."
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