Graciela Broncheau

On September 28, 2026, the Nez Perce Tribe Students for Success program in collaboration with the Himyu
Hinewi council hosted a one-day gathering focused on intergenerational trauma, breaking the cycle of
trauma, reconnection, and healing.

Adults in their healing journey are commended (rightfully so) for choosing a healthy path after incarceration,
treatment, or other traumatic experiences. As adults we know what broke our world apart and try to address
it through a variety of ways, which can include counseling, therapy, traditional medicines, sweat, wellbriety,
etc., so that we can become healthy again. Sometimes lost in our own challenges and in our own healing
journey is that we broke apart the world of our kids and they need to heal as well.

Our youth council members brought to our attention that as youth and young adults, they feel they are
forgotten about and are expected to deal with the trauma that their parents/guardians subjected them to by
themselves. Some youth suggested that they are shamed into not speaking up about it and should just be
happy that they have their parents back in their lives. Their unresolved trauma, their grief, and their pain may
lead them down the same path that their parents went down, so the cycle of trauma continues. These brave
youth are using their voice to try and break that cycle. They want people to consider them when they are
helping their parents in recovery or during and after traumatic events.

This one-day conference was intended to bring awareness to the community about what our youth are going
through and how to start the conversations on how we can help them as a community. Conversations create
the future. We cannot erase the past, but we can help ensure our present and the future are healthy and
strong for our families and communities.

Some key takeaways from the conference:

• As a parent, rebuilding the relationship with your child requires staying consistent in
  showing your presence, in your affection, and in your actions. Building trust takes time.
• As a youth, when the parents are not in the picture, having supportive friends or a youth
  council that influences you in a positive way can help you refrain from falling through
  the cracks and becoming an addict yourself or making other unhealthy decisions.
• As a parent, taking accountability for the actions that may have harmed your children is
  an important step for everyone’s healing, but to not feel ashamed about it. Transparency
  can help, depending on their age and maturity. Working together to heal as a family can
  help with forgiveness and reconnection.