A 5-Day Community Healing & Capacity-Building Program
In-Person or Virtual | Fully Customizable
Healing Together: Addressing & Preventing Lateral Violence is a powerful, community-centred program designed to help First Nations communities understand, address, and break the cycle of lateral violence in a safe, respectful, and healing way.
This workshop creates space for honest conversations about conflict, hurt, and harm — while focusing on compassion, accountability, and collective responsibility. Participants gain tools to recognize lateral violence, understand where it comes from, and develop healthier ways of communicating, resolving conflict, and supporting one another.
The program is trauma-informed, non-judgmental, and grounded in real community experiences.
Who This Program Is For
- First Nations adults
- Community members
- Band and organizational staff
- Leadership and frontline workers
- Workplace teams
- Anyone affected by conflict, tension, or lateral violence in community or workplace settings
Program Overview
Lateral violence can show up in many ways — gossip, blame, silence, exclusion, bullying, and unresolved conflict. Left unaddressed, it can damage relationships, workplaces, mental health, and community trust.
This 5-day program helps participants:
- Understand what lateral violence is and how it shows up
- Explore the root causes of lateral violence
- Recognize the impacts on individuals and communities
- Learn practical tools for conflict resolution and communication
- Build respect, empathy, and teamwork
- Move toward healing, accountability, and change
The focus is not on blame — but on awareness, responsibility, and collective healing.
What Participants Will Learn
Throughout the program, participants explore:
- What lateral violence is — and what it is not
- Common forms of lateral violence
- Root causes, including historical and systemic factors
- The personal and community impacts of lateral violence
- How conflict escalates and how to interrupt it
- Healthy communication and conflict resolution strategies
- Building respectful, healthy relationships
- Dealing with difficult people in constructive ways
- Leadership skills for positive change
- Collaboration and shared responsibility
- Breaking the cycle of lateral violence
Typical Program Structure (5 Days)
While fully customizable, Healing Together is commonly delivered as a 5-day program, with each day building understanding and skills.
Typical themes include:
- Understanding lateral violence and its roots
- Exploring impacts on individuals, families, workplaces, and communities
- Conflict resolution tools and communication strategies
- Accountability, respect, and empathy
- Leadership, collaboration, and healing
- Creating a shared vision for healthier community relationships
Each day includes:
- Guided discussion
- Reflection activities
- Real-life scenarios
- Group problem-solving
- Skill-building exercises
Community Action Planning
A key component of this program is moving from awareness to action.
Participants work together to:
- Set personal and collective goals
- Identify steps toward change
- Develop a community or workplace action plan
- Commit to healthier ways of relating and resolving conflict
This ensures the learning continues beyond the workshop.
Fully Customizable to Community Needs
Healing Together is completely flexible. Communities can customize:
- Program length and pacing
- Delivery format (in-person or virtual)
- Focus for community members, staff, or leadership teams
- Integration with wellness, governance, or workplace training
We work closely with communities to ensure the program reflects local priorities, realities, and readiness.
First Nations–Focused & Trauma-Informed
This program is delivered with a deep understanding of:
- Intergenerational trauma
- Historical and systemic impacts
- Close community and workplace relationships
- The need for safe, respectful learning spaces
The approach is:
- Trauma-aware
- Strengths-based
- Non-judgmental
- Focused on healing, not punishment
Participants are never pressured to share personal experiences.
Why Communities Bring This Program In
Communities choose Healing Together because it:
- Addresses conflict in a respectful, constructive way
- Reduces gossip, blame, and division
- Supports healthier workplaces and relationships
- Builds communication and conflict-resolution skills
- Encourages accountability and leadership
- Strengthens trust and community well-being
Why Funders Support This Program
Funders value this program because it:
- Supports mental wellness and community healing
- Builds conflict-resolution and leadership capacity
- Reduces workplace and community conflict
- Encourages collaboration and accountability
- Aligns with wellness, prevention, governance, and capacity-building priorities
Outcomes Participants Can Expect
After completing Healing Together, participants often report:
- Greater awareness of lateral violence and its impacts
- Improved communication and conflict-resolution skills
- Increased empathy and understanding
- Stronger teamwork and collaboration
- Clear steps toward positive change
- A renewed sense of shared responsibility
Bring Healing Together to Your Community
If your community is ready to address lateral violence with honesty, compassion, and action, Healing Together: Addressing & Preventing Lateral Violence offers a respectful, effective path forward.
We work alongside communities to support healing, accountability, and stronger connections.
