Racism within Lateral Violence and Lateral Violence within Racism – An Aboriginal Australian Perspective under the

theme Manifestations and Impacts of Racism

By Cheri Yavu-Kama-HarathunianDirector - Indigenous Wellbeing Centre Bundaberg

Elders Wisdoms Patron - Lateral Love Australia

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What is Lateral violence?

• Lateral violence is the power and control used by a dominating authority and individuals, to disconnect and decimate a people’s or person’s nationhood birthrights, to their spiritual and cultural heritage, self and cultural identity and ‘sense of being’. This is done by means of colonisation processes that ‘normalise’ institutionalised systems of violent intimidation, manipulation and deception politically, environmentally, religiously, legitimately, governmentally and socially.

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What is Racism • Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior or

inferior to another, that a person’s social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics. (Anti-Defamation League 2012)

• Racism against First Nations peoples, continues to exist in Australia since settlement when Aboriginal people were defined, by the first settlers, as less than human because of differences in skin colour, language, culture, customs and characteristics that were not similar to those of the settler peoples.

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Expressions of Lateral Violence

• You Aboriginal people NEED us non-Aboriginal people to help to lift you up from your birth place = Welfare related policies.

• You Aboriginal people do not have any understanding of law, economics, religion, or governance = We non-Aboriginal people have a divine right to show you and teach you about yourselves.

• You Aboriginal people do not know who you really are = non-Aboriginal researchers will help you to understand that you are the most researched people on the planet.

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Expressions of Lateral Violence

• First Nations peoples 700+ names made one name, ‘Aboriginal’, a political and legitimate construct created for settlers to identify and recognise ALL First Nations peoples = cultural identity devalued.

• Aboriginal Law replaced by Westminster Law = made Aboriginal ‘lore’

• Aboriginal languages were barred from being spoken, taught and learned = English replaced the many and varied languages spoken by different groups of traditional peoples.

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Expressions of Lateral Violence

• ‘Walkabout’ our ancient educational system was dismantled by fencing and building of towns, stations and missions. Education was taken over by government and the church.

• Access to ancient tribal boundaries, sacred sites, hunting

grounds and law grounds disrupted as land became a commercial commodity = peoples spiritual connections to sacred country disrupted, some groups took their spirituality and Law underground.

• Aboriginal spirituality was demonised made out to be evil – We

were told that we were an animists people who worshipped things and objects.

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Expressions of Lateral Violence within Aboriginal Society HISTORICAL1. Family – decimated.

2. Religion – told we were animists.

3. Business – told we did not have any.

4. Arts and entertainment – ridiculed.

5. Education – savages do not have such a system.

6. Media – cave, sand, body, rock paintings misinterpreted.

7. Government - savages or sub-humans do not have such a system.

CONTEMPORARY1. Families and children removed to

missions, reserves and jails.2. Spirituality was not recognised.3. Barter and economic systems not

recognised.4. Stone age man art, corroboree and

other ceremonies not acknowledged.5. Walkabout dismantled through

settlement.6. Bull roarers, boundary markers, smoke

signals and landscape traces misunderstood.

7. False belief about and rejection of the mainstay of Aboriginal ways of government and their practice and adherence to Aboriginal Law through Elders, Men’s and Women’s business and initiation ceremonies.

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Seven Principles of Aboriginal Law in condensed form

1. All life, both animate and inanimate is sacred2. Family, blood, kin and skin relationships maintain

our peoples3. Caring and Sharing maintains equality 4. Obligation and Reciprocity maintains equity5. Respect for our sacred lands expresses our Spirit

connect with all of nature6. Spirituality keeps us connected to Creator Spirit7. Culture is sacred and expresses our potential

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Some Examples of Lateral violence survival skills today

• Physical, mental, emotional, psychological, economical, personal, sexual violence and abuse of self and others.

• Domestic and family violence and family disconnections.

• Self harm and self abuse.• Verbal violence and abuse.• Alcohol and substance abuse.• Lack of interest in spiritual

awareness and understanding.• Control and enmity.

which leads to

• Internalised anger, conflict, unhappiness, depression, disregard for others feelings, pulling down others, gossip, personality conflicts, shaming others, pridefulness, suicide emotionally, spiritually, mentally, psychologically, and physically.

• Disrespect for self, disrespect for culture, disrespect for identity and disrespect for heritage.

• Abuse of land and ancient boundaries.

• Big Shame.

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Racism within Lateral Violence and Lateral Violence within Racism – An Aboriginal Australian Perspective under the theme

Manifestations and Impacts of Racism

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Questions

“Junjarin-nga dhar’guna yau’eembai’ya ngoolam’bula dhar’kun yar war gow”

These are words from my Kabi Kabi cultural heritage. They are words given to my people to

honour and bless others and they mean: “May the spiritual forces of Mother Earth guide

and protect your inner self and truth”.Yavu-Kama-Harathunian 2010-2012© 10

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Further Information Regarding Lateral Violence

Indigenous Wellbeing Centre - www.iwc.org.au

Lateral Love Australia - www.lateralloveaustralia.com

Join the Lateral Love conversation on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/178619712271513/