Across substances, rates of use are high in indigenous populations across North America. Melissa Schick discusses the historical and ongoing trauma experienced by these populations and why it might be related to higher rates of substance use. Melissa also discusses combining strength-based approaches, from the perspective of positive psychology with community participatory research to provide culturally humble treatment and interventions. Melissa Schick is a Doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Rhode Island and the Senior Student Representative to the executive committee for the Society for Addiction Psychology.