Divide and Conquer - Playing the Colonizer's Game

Join hostess Brenda Golden and guest Majick Ravenhawk as they discuss what "Divide and Conquer" means and does in Indian Country.  From the very beginning of colonizers invading this land, their strategy to divide and conquer the indigenous populations was effective.  That strategy is a learned behavior that Indian Country has adopted subconsciously partially because of historical trauma and lateral violence.  . 

Historical trauma has a significant impact on the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of Native Americans. At the core of Native American psychology, historical trauma manifests itself in the social and personal issues prevalent in our communities including substance abuse, mental health problems, domestic violence, child abuse, depression, anger, and loneliness. 

Our people have been oppressed for a very long time and, now some of our own people have become the oppressors.  This is called lateral violence.  The most common behaviors associated with lateral violence that prevent positive change from occurring include gossiping, bullying, finger pointing, backstabbing and shunning. These behaviors are becoming increasingly common on Facebook and Twitter. However, we do not want our own people and our supporters taking to these kinds of tactics to advance themselves within any movement.  If someone (or someone’s) making you feel like you are being undermined or even feelings of sabotage of success or growth, then you may be a victim of lateral violence. The root cause of this is actually colonization. It is not our way to behave like that to one another. We do not make people feel isolated, alone and rejected.