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As California grapples with devastating wildfires affecting over 40,000 acres, with the Palisades Fire at 31% containment and the Eaton Fire at 65% contained, educators find themselves at the forefront of supporting children and families through collective trauma. The impact extends far beyond the immediate crisis - over 12,300 structures destroyed, 27 lives lost, and tens of thousands displaced from their homes (NBC News, 2025). These numbers, however, only tell part of the story. Behind each statistic lies a child's sense of safety disrupted, a family's connection to a place severed, a community's fabric stretched thin by uncertainty and loss.
In seeking ways to support our students through this crisis, we can turn to the profound wisdom of Indigenous approaches to collective healing. Indigenous communities have long understood what modern research is beginning to recognize: that trauma exists not just within individuals but "within the collective experience of communities and their connection to the land" (Milligan et al., 2022, p. 7). This understanding becomes particularly relevant as entire communities face displacement and environmental destruction.
Understanding Trauma Through an Indigenous Lens
Indigenous perspectives teach us that children's experiences of trauma cannot be separated from their community context. As tribal health professionals emphasize, "rather than one off or short trainings... what is really needed is institutional change, starting with winning over the hearts and minds of leadership" (Milligan et al., 2022, p. 20). This wisdom challenges us to move beyond individual interventions to consider how we can support entire communities through crisis. This also requires us to step outside of our comfort zone and get to know the communities that we are in, beyond the surface level.
“The Practice Paper on Incorporating Indigenous Perspectives” highlights a crucial insight: "Children don't really get the level of attunement and connection because our adults are so stressed" (Milligan et al., 2022, p. 14). This understanding reminds us that supporting children means supporting their entire support system - families, educators, and community members who provide stability during crisis. That can be a challenging task when you do not know where to start because much of the focus goes to “saying the right thing”. When a crisis hits, there is no “right” thing to say, it is about what you do! Within indigenous communities there are several key principles that anchor their approach to cultural and community healing.
Maintaining Community Connections
When physical displacement threatens to fragment communities, Indigenous wisdom shows us the importance of preserving social bonds. Schools can serve as anchors of community connection, creating spaces where displaced families can maintain their sense of belonging and mutual support. This might happen through regular community gatherings, shared meals, or collaborative support networks.
Honoring Cultural Ways of Healing
Indigenous communities emphasize that "promoting resiliency and overcoming trauma includes remembering our culture and tradition and reconnecting with it" (Milligan et al., 2022, p. 18). Schools can support this by:
- Creating spaces where diverse cultural expressions of grief and healing are honored
- Supporting families in maintaining their cultural practices despite displacement
- Recognizing that different communities may have varying ways of processing collective trauma
Supporting Children Through Community Response
A key insight from Indigenous healing traditions is that "it is how we respond...our response to trauma is what makes a difference" (Milligan et al., 2022, p. 4). This teaches us that while we cannot shield children from awareness of the crisis, we can profoundly impact how they process and integrate these experiences through our collective response.
Indigenous approaches show us that healing happens best "within a culture-specific context that is at the community and family level" (Milligan et al., 2022, p. 23).
For schools, this could mean:
Creating Stable Environments: Schools can provide predictable routines while remaining flexible to emotional needs. This includes creating safe spaces where children can express their feelings, maintaining connections with displaced classmates, and ensuring consistent adult support.
Supporting Family Systems: Understanding that "trauma needs to be addressed at the individual, community, and organizational level" (Milligan et al., 2022, p. 20), schools must work to support entire family systems. This includes:
- Developing flexible attendance and academic policies
- Creating clear communication channels with displaced families
- Providing resources and referrals for family support
- Building networks of mutual aid among school families
Moving Forward Together
Indigenous wisdom teaches us that healing is not linear and cannot be rushed. As communities face immediate crisis while preparing for long-term recovery, schools can serve as centers of collective resilience by:
- Maintaining strong community connections
- Supporting cultural and traditional practices
- Creating sustainable support networks
- Preserving hope while acknowledging loss
The path forward requires understanding and as Indigenous wisdom shows us, "relationships take time, and consistency, and showing up, and listening" (Milligan et al., 2022, p. 18). Through steady presence, cultural humility, and commitment to collective healing, educational communities can help guide children and families through this crisis while building stronger, more resilient connections.
As we face the ongoing threat of returning fire conditions and potential mudslides, we must remember that our response to this crisis will shape its lasting impact on our children and communities. By grounding our approach in Indigenous wisdom about collective healing, we can work together to support our students not just through immediate crisis but toward long-term recovery and renewal.
Reference:
Image: [Tomol Crossing Channel Islands]. (Sept 8, 2012). Robert Schwemmer. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tomol_Crossing_Channel_Islands_(43101684130).jpg
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NBC News. California wildfires live updates: Firefighters battle to contain blazes. NBC News. Retrieved January 21, 2025, from https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/live-blog/california-wildfires-live-updates-firefighters-battle-contain-blazes-t-rcna188100
Ashley Causey-Golden
A THENCE Partner and founder of an amazing forest school and daycare center for families in the Atlanta area.
Her contributions and POV have brought excellent guides and frameworks as well as reading recommendations to THENCE readers for several years.
Get in touch with Ashley below! THENCE would love to hear your thoughts on methods of healing or supporting children in the midst of a crisis.
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