Resiliency. the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity. ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy. Definition from Dictionary.com

Below MSW student, Caleb Williamson, reflects on his experience as a participant at the 2015 Summer Institute in American Indian Child Welfare where the topic this year was Resiliency.

My first in-person experience with the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MSW program was the field orientation. During the orientation all of us students nervously sat waiting to learn some details and receive guidance regarding the program. In an introduction by Director of Field Education, MJ Gilbert declared that “field is the signature pedagogy of the MSW program”. For me this meant learn by immersion, learn by doing, jumping in. Using this as a frame for my upcoming graduate studies, I jumped at the opportunity to attend the 2015 Summer Institute in American Indian Child Welfare, which was held at the Leech Lake Reservation in Walker, MN.

Recognition of historical trauma permeated session content and group discussion. After the first day, I found myself feeling appreciative yet frustrated. All of the presenters, University staff, and others were incredibly open and generous. At the same time I had begun the hard work of peeling back the bandage that had been placed over the atrocities committed against American Indian Peoples. In preparation for the Institute we read text, completed online modules, and I did some personal research. This inquiry gave me “the what”. Meeting folks and hearing experiences in person added depth and extended my understanding; this view of “the who” felt painful.

Listening to and engaging with folks shifted the legacy of historical trauma from conceptual to lived. In this space I wondered; is resiliency appropriate? Is it the job of the oppressed to bounce back? Or is it the job of the dominant society to undo systems of oppression? By the end of the Institute I decided that the answer to all my questions was “yes”. I learned that for American Indian communities resiliency is practice; practice of traditional values and life ways. It was also clear to me that social workers are poised to work toward justice by keeping children safe while also advocating on behalf of the people we serve.

The opportunity to learn about the Anishinaabe of Minnesota through practice was an unforgettable experience. I feel deep gratitude for those who allowed me to participate in ceremony, trusted me with their stories, and empowered me work on behalf of the Indian American community with greater understanding.