Page 6 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - April 2025

6

HEALTH/WELLNESS

Finding strength beyond trauma

Pouring feelings into
written word proves
a powerful experience

By Bobbie Bush
It was a partially sunny
semi-warm day on May 4 when
the third Trauma is Not Our
Tradition event kicked off in
the Gathering Room of the
Community Center.
Beyond Trauma: Finding
Strength in Our Stories through
Poetry was well attended with 27
people who signed in and a few
more joining later.
Dan “Bones” Gleason Sr.
offered a blessing to start. Dr. The Trauma is Not Our Tradition event focused on the healing power of poetry with guest speakers and exercises.
Chau described the purpose of
Trauma is Not Our Tradition and
how it came to be three years ago.
Rena Priest was the first guest
speaker to read her work. Rena is
an acclaimed poet, essayist and
enrolled member of the Lummi
Nation.
As the sixth Washington State
Poet Laureate (2021-23) and
recipient of the Washington State
Book Award, Rena’s work is deeply
rooted in storytelling, culture and
advocacy.
Her upcoming essay collection,
“Positively Uncivilized,” will be
published in September 2025. It is
the winner of the 2024 Keepers of Rena Priest
the Fire Award.
Rena orated three of her “Man Up: Reimagining Modern of the full moon over Seattle with
beautiful poems. “These Abundant Manhood.” the Cascade mountains in the
and Generous Homelands,” was The other group stayed in the background.
amazing. Thank you for the Gathering Room with Rena, who The focus of the session with
inspiring words and especially the facilitated a free-writing session in Carlos was on how males are
free-write sessions. three parts. coerced into assumption of masks
The second guest speaker The focus for the free write to cover their true feelings. The
was Carlos Andrés Gómez, a was the difference in perceptions, men were asked what they would
Colombian American poet and expressions and thoughts. communicate if they could write a
actor from New York City. Rena presented three pictures letter to their 13-year-old self.
He is the author of several and asked the group to describe Raffles were drawn for door
award-winning works, including them based on visual perceptions prizes. Each table featured
the No. 1 SPD bestseller “Circling then to describe how the images flowerpots and potted plants that
Fatherhood” and the Poetry made them feel, what the group were given to participants.
International Chapbook prize- Carlos Andrés Gómez would do with the material in the The event brought to light
winning memoir “Man Up: images and the sound each would how each person has different
Reimagining Modern Manhood.” word performers in the world. make. perceptions of events in their lives
Carlos is a star of HBO’s “Def Carlos orated “Abuelita,” which It was interesting to hear the and interprets them uniquely.
Poetry Jam,” TV One’s “Verses and is about his grandmother’s lived descriptions folks shared. Thank you, Rena, Carlos and the
Flow” and Spike Lee’s box-office experience. Beautiful is all that is Rena revealed the images all Behavioral Health crew for a great
hit “Inside Man” alongside Denzel needed to describe it. contained a commonality. The time.
Washington. After the readings, participants pictures were of parts of the moon, Lastly, the food spread was
He is one of the most sought- broke into two groups. One group moon rock, micron microscope spectacular! It was healthy, tasty
after keynote speakers and spoken went with Carlos for a session on images of moon dust and a picture and delicious.