Indigenous and immigrant voices for healing and wellness in graduate education

ABSTRACT

The importance of healing and wellness is a local, global, and historical concern, especially for Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island/North America and across the world. Since the COVID-19 pandemic commenced in March 2020, the issues of sustainability and wellbeing have been shared intensely in virtual graduate classrooms by Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples. The space in which Indigenous Peoples and Settlers on Turtle Island/North America express intents for their education is uncomfortable. Decolonizing efforts to address systemic discrimination in graduate education require truths to be told and heard before there can be reconciliation for past and current injustices against Indigenous Peoples. Systemic discrimination is an impediment to Indigenous and Settler graduate students and faculty healing, wellness, and academic success as they pursue teaching, learning, and self-sustainability. Reading the literature on Indigenous and Settler voices in graduate education and discussing the emerging insights and reflections, this chapter identifies the challenges and the possibilities for graduate student and faculty healing and wellness. This spontaneous and honest atmosphere allowed to access the self of each other despite the diverse sociocultural backgrounds and experiences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)