This is a blog by our Restorative Justice Programme Manager, Anika Cosgrove.
In my personal life, my family background has motivated an interest in the history of enslavement and indentured labourers. It is a sustained dehumanising period of history that includes incredible stories of resilience, strength and bravery that deserves to be remembered.
Recently, during a family holiday in Mauritius, we visited a museum in Mahebourg. There, we looked at pieces of our history encased in glass boxes, photographs and illustrations depicting the lives of indentured labourers and enslaved people. An entire culture that had been created to dehumanise people based on the colour of their skin.
My father, in his 70s, looked at images of his ancestors who wore labour contracts around their necks, saw images of the tiny, enclosed spaces they were forced to live in and read stories about how indentured labourers would risk the possibility of prison should they need to take off a day for sickness. I watched both my father and my young son explore a world of history that seemed so far away from their own lives. But is it really? Are the experiences of our ancestors detached from our lives? Did the collective experience of trauma through abuse and dehumanisation die with that generation?
Intergenerational trauma, also known as generational or transgenerational trauma, is the passing down of traumatic experiences or stressors from one generation to the next. I, like many, believe that the trauma of the experiences of our ancestors are present today. That the unprocessed trauma becomes part of our DNA.
The legacy of enslavement does not just fade with time; it lingers in the psyche of descendants and affects both individuals and communities. It can present in multiple ways: an innate mistrust of government institutions, emotional resilience, health disparities, social inequalities and communities building collective coping strategies that, through generations, have now become part of the culture.
Can restorative approaches help?
Restorative approaches can play a vital role in healing intergenerational trauma. By creating spaces for dialogue, communities can share their stories, confront painful histories, find common ground, identify the root causes of trauma and develop sustainable solutions, whilst also helping dismantle the cycles of trauma and harm that perpetuate mistrust and division between communities and services.
This approach can not only validate the experiences of descendants but also helps to build a collective narrative that honours generational resilience. Communal healing spaces can support individuals to see that they are not alone in their struggles, in turn supporting them to process their pain more effectively. This sense of belonging can mitigate feelings of isolation that often accompany trauma. Healing from intergenerational trauma is rarely a solitary journey; it requires collective action and solidarity. Done in this way, restorative approaches can bridge the gap between past and present, turning historical pain into a source of strength.
The path towards healing is not straightforward for any experience of trauma, especially intergenerational harm. It requires a commitment to listening, learning, and growing together as a society. As we engage with the stories of those who came before us, it gives us the opportunity to envision a future where the scars of intergenerational trauma can transform into symbols of strength, empowerment and hope. It allows both individuals and communities to honour the past while paving the way for a brighter future.
