Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness

1. Lateral Violence is Not Who We Are—It Was Taught to Us

One of the most powerful insights from this training is that lateral violence is not an inherent part of Indigenous culture. Traditional Indigenous communities thrived on principles of respect, reciprocity, and shared responsibility. Colonization, residential schools, and systemic oppression disrupted these cultural practices, fostering an environment where Indigenous people were pitted against one another.
In the training, participants explore historical contexts that led to the emergence of lateral violence and discuss how decolonization efforts can help reverse its effects. This foundational understanding is crucial in shifting the narrative from blame to collective healing.


2. The Workplace is a Common Battleground for Lateral Violence

Lateral violence manifests in various ways in professional settings, including:
• Gossip and rumor-spreading
• Withholding important information
• Sabotaging colleagues’ work
• Non-verbal innuendos (eye-rolling, dismissive gestures)
• Gaslighting and undermining confidence
The IPS training includes real-world scenarios and discussions that help participants recognize these behaviors, understand their impact, and learn proactive ways to address them.


3. Healing Requires a Shift from Victimization to Empowerment

A core part of the training focuses on breaking free from cycles of victimization. Participants are introduced to the Empowerment Triangle, a framework that replaces the traditional “Victim, Persecutor, Rescuer” dynamic with healthier roles:
• Challenger: Encourages accountability in a supportive way
• Coach: Helps others find their own strength and solutions
• Creator: Takes initiative to shape a positive workplace culture
By embracing this model, participants gain strategies to foster resilience, leadership, and personal growth within their teams.


Lateral Kindness

Weave love and kindness like a braid of sweetgrass.

Being focused in the spiritual aspect of ourselves allows to clear a space of love. Honouring ourselves and others we must ensure we remember our own laws and protocol that promote love and kindness which supports a safe space.

The antidote for lateral violence is lateral kindness.

Lateral violence does not align with Indigenous worldviews that emphasize interconnectedness, balance, respect, and relational accountability. Ancestral knowledge and teachings show us that all beings are related, and that wellness is rooted in community and mutual care. Lateral violence is something that was imposed and learned. But if it was learned, it can be unlearned. And in its place, we can grow something different – something ancestral.

To promote fair, unified, impartial decision making it is wise to ensure you are grounded in our cree values. Understanding the impacts of colonialism is an essential because it relevant in our communities. One of the impacts is lateral violence.

First & foremost what is lateral violence? Lateral violence, also known as horizontal violence, is a pervasive issue that affects many workplaces, particularly those within Indigenous communities. But what exactly is lateral violence?

It refers to harmful behaviors—such as bullying, gossiping, exclusion, and passive-aggressive actions—that are directed at colleagues rather than at external sources of oppression. Rooted in historical trauma and systemic inequalities, lateral violence is an unfortunate consequence of colonization that continues to impact Indigenous communities today.

4. Lateral Kindness is the Antidote to Lateral Violence

Lateral kindness is a concept introduced in the training that encourages acts of empathy, support, and encouragement in professional and community spaces. Instead of reacting with negativity, individuals are guided toward transformative behaviors, such as:
• Practicing active listening and open communication
• Celebrating colleagues’ successes rather than competing
• Offering mentorship and support rather than exclusion
• Holding space for healing conversations in the workplace


One of the most impactful exercises in the training challenges participants to reflect on ways they can implement lateral kindness in their own work environments.


5. Conflict Transformation is More Effective Than Conflict Resolution
Traditional conflict resolution focuses on “fixing” problems, but conflict transformation goes deeper—it aims to change the structures and relationships that contribute to conflict in the first place.


If you’re an Indigenous professional, a non-Indigenous ally, or part of an organization that serves Indigenous communities, this training is an essential step toward creating a safer, more inclusive workplace. By registering, you’ll gain:

• A deeper understanding of lateral violence and its historical roots
• Practical tools to address workplace conflict and promote healing
• A network of like-minded professionals committed to change
• Strategies to foster a culture of lateral kindness and resilience


Lateral violence does not have to be a reality in our workplaces. With the right knowledge and tools, we can create environments that uplift, support, and empower Indigenous professionals.

Here are six steps to practice lateral kindness:

  • Know your story and the impacts of internalized oppression on your wholistic well-being.

  • Sprinkle lateral kindness into your day, week, month, and year. Spreading kindness creates a positive ripple effect in your life and the lives of those around you.

  • Share a smile with the person on the bus, on the sidewalk, at home, and at work.

  • Share stories of lateral kindness and the impact it had on you.

  • Lend a helping hand; volunteer and reciprocate kindness.

  • Practice self-kindness. Although this is often thought to be selfish, self-kindness is a personal act of love towards oneself. This personal act of love shows the world how you want and deserve to be treated.

How we treat ourselves shows others how we want to be treated.

Imagine if your day was filled with hate, gossip, rumours, bullying, exclusion, discrimination, violence, racism, and harassment. I invite you to sit with this feeling for a moment and notice how it sits in your mind, body, and spirit.

Now imagine if your day was filled with kindness, love, grace, cooperation, sharing time and stories, reciprocal relationships, and equality. Imagine that this is experienced within your family, community, and workspace. I invite you to sit with and lean into that feeling for a moment. Notice the impact of this on your mind, body, and spirit.

Notice the difference? Now What?

Becoming a lateral kindness warrior begins with you.

Plant the seeds of kindness, water them, tend to them with care, and witness them take root and flourish. Although lateral violence is deeply rooted in historical and systemic internalized oppression, we can replant seeds of kindness that once spread throughout our communities.

When we courageously step forward with love and kindness, we can experience a surge of cultural reclamation.

Lateral kindness is more than playing nice in the sand box – it is a way of being which is deeply connected to the valued Indigenous teachings of love, respect, wisdom, courage, truth, honesty, and humility.