The relational roots of community peacemaking are the relationships that connect people to one another, to family, to community, to culture and to place.

These relationships shape how conflict is experienced and how peace may be restored.

A dispute that appears to involve two people may be connected to a much wider set of relationships. Family responsibilities, cultural obligations, past events, community roles and connections to Country may all influence what has happened and what people need from the peacemaking process.

For this reason, peacemaking does not look only at the immediate disagreement. It considers the relationships surrounding it.

This may require careful understanding of:

• how the people involved are connected;
• who else has been affected;
• whether other family members need to be included;
• who has the cultural or community authority to provide guidance;
• whether earlier events are contributing to the conflict;
• what responsibilities people hold within their relationships; and
• what may be needed to prevent the conflict from continuing or spreading.

Relational practice does not mean involving everyone connected to a conflict. Bringing additional people into a matter without care can increase pressure, compromise privacy or make the situation less safe.

It means understanding that conflict has a relational context and making informed decisions about how that context should shape the response.

These relational roots distinguish community peacemaking from approaches that treat conflict mainly as a problem between separate individuals. They help peacemaking remain connected to the people and place in which peace must continue after any meeting has ended.