NAN women’s forum features talk on lateral violence

The 2014 NAN Women’s Council Forum took place on March 18-20 in Thunder Bay.
This year’s conference included a series of special events including performances by Dennis Franklin Cromarty’s Youth Jigging Troupe and stand up comedy by Ron Kanutski and Todd Genno.
“I had a great time at the NAN Women’s Council,” Kanutski said. “It is the first show I have delivered with 98 per cent women in attendance and I found the group easy to engage with and get the laughs flowing.”
He said he used English and Ojibway in his humour with a hint of music to finish off the show.
“It was an honour to be invited and I felt respected,” Kanutski said. “I look forward to many more opportunities in the future.”
Invited guests also participated in various workshops related to the building wellness and resiliency theme of this year’s conference.
Fort Albany member Brent Edwards was on hand on March 20 to deliver an informative workshop on the issue of lateral violence. Lateral violence, a form of bullying, is an issue that is alive and well in many First Nations communities.
Edwards asked that the participants close their eyes and raise their hands if they’d ever experienced lateral violence and gave out examples, with the majority of the room raising their hands. When asked if they’d ever been the bully in a situation, a fair number had also raised their hands.
The group of women shared their stories and experiences with lateral violence.
One example of lateral violence that Edwards addressed was the use of the words “just kidding” after an insult.
“Someone will say something to you, or laugh at you, and then they say ‘just kidding,’” Edwards said. “You see it on Facebook, and hear it in communities.”
“Why or how has that become socially acceptable in our community?” Edwards asked.
And Evening of Solidarity for Missing and Murdered Women also took place on March 18, with NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno, Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, and Sharon Johnson.
The forum also included a cultural teachings session with Sam Achneepineskum, a self-care workshop with Melissa Seguin, SafeTALK training, a presentation from Corrine Fox of the Canadian Addictions and Mental Health, Have a Heart exercise by Esther McKay, Cancer Care with Kiri Butter, and a presentation on NADF’s microloan program with Linda McGuire.