Reading List | Understanding trauma, healing and mindfulness by Indigenous & BIPOC authors
Essential Reading List
Indigenous people experiencing trauma sequalae from colonialism is multilayered and understood as intergenerational, historic, and complex trauma further compounded by interpersonal and ongoing systemic and racialized inequalities and violence. There is an underrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in mindfulness-based research and a general lack of trauma-informed, body-based initiatives for Indigenous communities, especially for women, youth and LGBQT2S+ peoples. My contention is that Trauma-informed Yoga (TIY) and community-based yoga and mindfulness programs may provide a safe and accessible approach for Indigenous peoples to explore inward experiences of their bodies and develop a strong sense of community and (re)connection to culture.
Here are some essential books to promote learning, reflection, and healing.
Trauma, Healing, Yoga, & Mindfulness books by Indigenous and BIPOC authors
Baskin, C. (2016). Strong helpers' teachings: The value of Indigenous knowledges in the helping professions. Canadian Scholars’ Press.
Bird, Y. M.(2012). Neurodecolonization: Using Mindfulness Practices to Delete the Neural Networks of Colonialism. Waziyatawin, & M. Yellow Bird (Eds.), For Indigenous Minds Only: A Decolonization Handbook.
Duran, E. (2006). Healing the soul wound: Counseling with American Indians and other Native people. Teachers College Press.
Linklater, R. (2014). Decolonizing trauma work: Indigenous stories and strategies. Fernwood Publishing.
Mailhot, T. M. (2018). Heart berries: A memoir. Catapult.
Mehta, P. (2016). Feminist Yoga as a Revolution from Within. Yoga, the body, and embodied social change: An intersectional feminist analysis, 227.
Menakem, R. (2021). My grandmother's hands: Racialized trauma and the pathway to mending our hearts and bodies. Penguin UK.
Methot, S. (2019). Legacy: Trauma, story, and Indigenous healing. ECW Press.
Parker, G. (2020). Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-based Stress and Trauma. Singing Dragon.
Recommended Western-Based trauma & yoga books
Emerson, D. (2015). Trauma-sensitive yoga in therapy: Bringing the body into treatment. WW Norton & Company.
Emerson, D., & Hopper, E. (2012). Overcoming trauma through yoga: Reclaiming your body. North Atlantic Books
Forrest, A. T. (2011). Fierce medicine: breakthrough practices to heal the body and ignite the spirit. Harper Collins.
Levine, P. A., & Frederick, A. (1997). Waking the tiger: Healing trauma: The innate capacity to transform overwhelming experiences. North Atlantic Books.
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2015). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books.
Other great reading lists:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1263226.Buddha_in_Redface
https://www.self.com/story/books-by-black-therapists
https://bookshop.org/lists/intergenerational-trauma-healing-amplifying-voices-bipoc-poc-books