According to Wikipedia and my own understanding of Lateral Violence it can be defined as: any act of hostility, criticism, or sabotage directed at a complete stranger, family member, child, peer or coworker.
The violence we experience within Indigenous communities is part of a cycle of abuse and its roots lie in factors such as: colonization, oppression, intergenerational trauma and the ongoing experiences of racism and discrimination. These traumas contribute to self-oppressing or bullying behaviors within our community. Those folks experiencing and committing lateral violence are more likely to be involved in crime.
According to Wikipedia and my own understanding, some aspects of lateral violence include issues such as: Power Dynamics: this occurs between peers and individuals of the same rank, though sometimes it can manifest as institutional neglect of hostile behavior, resulting in hostile work environments, homes, schools and community. Examples include but are not limited to: gossip, backbiting, eye-rolling, lying and withholding necessary information.
Peer-to-peer aggression is common, especially on reservations. There is a prevalence of toxic behavior among peers and colleagues.
Some causes often stem from personal biases including: ignorance, jealousy, rivalry, or prejudice.
Frequency of occurrence includes both isolated and sporadic incidents.
Lateral violence is common within our homes, schools, work places, communities and all across social media platforms.
Damaging remarks online often border on libel, potentially leading to legal consequences or loss of employment.
People of all ages, from students to elected officials, participate in lateral violence, particularly on reservations. Young people, including children and teenagers, are especially affected due to their often-extensive social media use and exposure to toxic behaviors, both in the home as well as in their schools and community. The negativity experienced in homes, schools, communities and online can significantly harm young people’s mental health.
Whether we are aware of it or not, as adults, we are role models and young people will imitate our actions and words.
There is a great need for adults and community members to model positive behaviors both online and in their homes and communities. Constructive conflict resolution should involve direct conversation rather than public or online instances of lateral violence.
I challenge you to post positive content on social media to help improve our environment.
Guidance and good examples from adults are crucial for children’s well-being and mental health.
I ask that you all to contribute to a healthier, more supportive environments, both in person and online, by only posting positive content on social media.
Avoid making disparaging remarks about others in person and online.
Encourage discussions about healthy conflict resolution offline and online Stop perpetuating the vicious cycle of lateral violence .
Provide guidance and positive role modeling for young people in your public and social media behavior.
Sicangu News 