Training Session: Violence -Destroying Our Spirit

“Any culture that has been oppressed will inevitably turn on itself.” Arlene Delaronde - Mohawk woman from Kahnawake, Quebec. Arlene has been working with the Family Violence Program and Healing the Family Circle for the past nine years. Multigenerational family-related violence and trauma is a critical issue in First Nations communities. Residential schools, unemployment, and sexual abuse all play a role in creating trauma that may last several generations with a lasting psychic and spiritual effect. Aboriginal people must maintain their spirit in order to combat violence in their communities and families. Violence occurs whenever anyone harms, or threatens to harm a person’s body, feelings or possessions. Violence is a learned behaviour. The most common types of violence are physical, verbal, psychological, and sexual. In First Nations, many factors impact whether or not violence may touch a community or family: Residential Schools Children taken away from their families; sexual, physical abuse occurred; loss of mother’s nurturing. Relocation First Nations people have been moved from their land; reserves changed. Lands set aside for reserves are not lush and plentiful to sustain the way of life that native people were used to. Native people lived off the land in their territory and could roam freely, hunting and fishing. These people are now placed in a smaller specific location, no free roaming. Suddenly a collective unused to this way of living is jammed on a small piece of land. Appropriation Lands and waters taken away, natural way of living taken away. Encroachment on lands with highway building, creation of waterways, golf courses. When natural way of living is taken away, identity and culture are lost for native people. The Indian Act Legislated racism and prejudice against a way of life. Indian agents had power to rule native communities; they could send children away and decide on assistance and education. Poverty Unemployment, lack of education, no proper water and housing. Culture Shock Poor education and background for entering high school. Students were unprepared coming from Residential Schools. Improper native history learned in high school. Loss of culture and traditions means loss of identity. Racism Comes from the dominant society and from within our own communities (lateral violence). Unresolved Grief Trauma can bring grief, loss and despair and these feelings often get stuffed in and bottled up. To deal with the pain, there are many ways in which bottled up grief and rage may come out, like alcohol and drug abuse, or physical and emotional abuse, and this is acted out through communities and families. How can we heal some of these issues in our communities? Cultural enrichment – going back and knowing where you have come from, your history and traditions. Work with your spirit – be healthy and happy, take personal responsibility for the quality of life in your community, respect basic human rights and protect your boundaries from violent situations. Education – attend workshops; learn about multigenerational trauma and grieving. Learn to communicate more effectively, especially between couples and children. Learn how to create healthier relationships and become a better parent. To address violence we must change our belief systems and perceptions. Unresolved loss can be bottled up only to explode later on. “Our children learn these behaviours from us and can pass them on through the family circle. We have to learn our own history and culture to discover who we really are as native people. We must be proud of our past in order to change our future.“