Social justice commissioner Mick Gooda says bullying, gossiping, jealousy and family feuding have become "a cancer" in Indigenous communities across Australia.

Mr Gooda will use tonight's annual Eddie Mabo lecture at James Cook University in Cairns to warn that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders will not move forward if they keep attacking each other in family feuds, native title disputes and battles to control Indigenous organisations.

He says the unhealthy behaviour has become embedded in Indigenous communities.

"I am talking about a concept of what we call lateral violence - it is about how we treat each other in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders community, in our families, and in our organisations," he said.

"It goes to behaviours like gossiping, backstabbing, name-calling and jealously and constantly attacking each other in the media.

"And people just think, 'Oh well, we don't have to do anything, because this mob is just fighting among themselves'."

Mr Gooda says he wants to rebuild strong and respectful Indigenous communities in Australia.

"I think it is oppression, where we feel disempowered and therefore we have got to lash out at each other," he said.

"I don't want to name places, but I guess most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people I know would know exactly what I am talking about and can point to instances where it happens in their own communities.

"We are really good at fighting but not really good at resolving conflict."