Anishinabe culture helps vets

American Indian wisdom could help non-Indian war veteransNorthrup read a number of poems he has written about his experience. In one, he answers the question of how it felt to kill: “I felt like a murderer, a savior, a cog in the machine.

“My mind and my thinking have been interrupted by these intrusive thoughts,” he said. “Many times I felt like killing myself.”

Northrup said he has learned to use tools to cope with PTSD, including writing about his experiences. He has authored two books, three plays and 50-60 poems and writes a syndicated newspaper column.

Another coping mechanism is “living my life with the seasons as the Anishinabe do,” he said.