Warrior Spirit: Soul Wound and Coping Among American Indians in Law Enforcement

Abstract

This qualitative, exploratory study examined the role vocation played for American Indian non-Tribal law enforcement officers in adaptively coping with historical trauma, or Soul Wound. Participants’ views of career in relationship to its perceived congruence with their Nations’ warrior societies and how this vocation may facilitate or constrain the management of Soul Wound or historical trauma issues was examined. For this study, 12 participants were interviewed and data were analyzed utilizing extended case method. Results indicated 11 of the 12 participants believed their vocation was congruent with their Nations’ traditional warrior roles, particularly related to the role’s value of mentorship and modeling well-living for the community. Participants’ interests and satisfaction, as well as facilitating and constraining factors of their roles, are discussed. The authors elaborate on existing theoretical understandings of Soul Wound and coping using the results. Limitations, implications, and future directions are described.