Expression Of Dark Emotions

Education will lead to understanding; understanding will lead to action. Education and understanding are going to be key to moving us forward. That's why I take every opportunity I can to try to educate Canadian people on the impact of intergenerational trauma. To tell them how, until 1951, indigenous people weren't allowed to leave the reserve without a permit. That it was illegal for a lawyer to give us advice. It was illegal for us to sell our wood, our cattle, without a permit. I want the next generation to understand we have endured, we have persevered and we are getting stronger. ~ Perry Bellegarde

Imagine you are living in a world where people treat you unfairly because of who you are. Over time, this unfair treatment called oppression can cause you to feel strong emotions like anger, resentment, and even hatred. These feelings don't always show right away. Sometimes, they stay hidden inside you, only coming out when you're under stress or feel threatened.

As time goes on, these emotions can start to change how you see yourself and how you treat others. They can even affect your health. Psychologist that studied people who were controlled by colonizers found that the constant mistreatment they experienced caused deep emotional pain that later showed up as anger or sudden outbursts.

But these feelings aren't just something that happens to one person. Whole communities can feel them too. For example, Indigenous and Black communities, who have faced racism for generations, may carry the emotional weight of that unfair treatment. These feelings can be passed down from generation to generation to grandparents to parents to children through stories, shared memories, and everyday experiences.

Sociologists use the term "double consciousness" to explain what it feels like to see yourself the way an unfair society sees you as if you have to live with two different versions of yourself. This can affect how you feel, think, and act.

When many people in a community feel this way, it can create powerful emotional energy. This energy doesn’t just change how people live their daily lives it can also lead to protests, social movements, and demands for justice. This is how emotions like anger and hatred, rooted in oppression, can shape not just individuals but entire communities striving for change and a better life.