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Native Americans, the original people from the vast region of North America, have endured numerous historical traumas. Yet many have been able to overcome their impoverished living conditions and maintain full-time employment. It is hypothesized that protective factors promoted resilience within these individuals, which encouraged a successful future. The present study examined both the degree and types of trauma experienced by a sample of Native Americans during childhood, along with their current levels of spiritual functioning and resilience. It was found that, overall they were exposed to significantly more childhood adversities and reported lower levels of education and employment status when compared to the Caucasian counterparts. Despite this, however, the Native American employees, in general, were unusual in the fact that they were not debilitated by their exposure to adverse experiences. While the current study cannot explicitly state what protective factors encouraged resilience, we can confidently conclude many factors existed for these individuals, allowing them to gain the necessary tools that encourage stable employment rather than succumbing to poverty and hardship.

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Dr. Kristie Knows His Gun is a Professor of Psychology, Assistant Director of Clinical Training, and Assistant Director of School-Based Behavioral Health at George Fox University in Newberg, OR. She earned her MA and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from George Fox University. Her interests include resilience, lifespan development, and assessments.

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