Abstract
Over the past several centuries, American Indians have survived ongoing denigration, oppression, and marginalization through European imperialism and colonialism (Smith, 2012). Despite the numerous challenges faced by American Indians, many continue to demonstrate an enormous amount of tenacity and resiliency for surviving such deep injustices, while also finding strength to pursue revitalization, sovereignty, and activism. Research can promote ideas for growth and change towards developing a culturally sensitive wellness model for Native people in a manner that maintains ties to its contributors. It is difficult to generalize findings with American Indian research as there is much variability between the different sovereign nations (Kaufman et al., 2013). Therefore, I intended to set aside culturally biased presumptions in the examination to find locally meaningful psychological concepts and characteristics for Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican people. The purpose of the study is to work towards providing culturally competent services that are appropriately adapted to this particular client population by first understanding personalized needs, desires, and sources of meaning. The constructivist-interpretivist theory guided both the interview and data analysis process. The data was examined in transcript form through thematic induction content analysis from an ethnographic and phenomenological standpoint. I searched for the essence of the phenomenon of deep-lived meanings that guide beliefs, actions, and interactions. The themes that emerged in the interviews related to the colonization, the revival of culture, lateral violence, pan-Indianism, togetherness, and the Mohican identity.