NW Collaborative
Futures Conference

October 20, 2021

Opening Night Presentation and Online Reception (6:00 pm to 8:00 pm)

6:00-6:55 pm – Online Reception & Virtual Mingle

Join us on Zoom to hear a few words from Mediate BC’s Board Chair Julie Daum and watch the presentation of the Susanna Jani Award in Supporting Excellence in Mediation. Feel free to have a favo(u)rite beverage (and snacks!) on hand to salute the award recipient! You will then be able to move around between breakout rooms where you’ll connect with old friends and new to mingle with colleagues up and down the West Coast of Canada and the US!

7:00-8:00 pm – Northwest Collaborative Futures Conference Opening Night Presentation

We’ll ask everyone to switch to a different Zoom link to hear from the Conference keynote speaker Tahmoh Penikett. We are excited and hono(u)red to have Tahmoh  join us to share reflections on his own experiences with the impacts of artificial borders and to stimulate reflection and conversation.

Tahmoh PenikettTahmoh Penikett is an actor especially recognized for his roles in many genre TV series. Born in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, Tahmoh is of the Tanana people. They are his blood relations and family. He has a strong connection and is extremely devoted to his family with whom he spends time whenever possible. He has a strong connection to Tanana traditions and love of storytelling.… READ MORE

October 21, 2021

Opening Prayer (9:00 am to 9:05 am)
Shelia Williams — Tsawwassen First Nation

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement (9:05 to 9:15)

Sharon Sutherland — Mediate BC, Vancouver
Darsey Meredith — CoRe Conflict Resolution Society, Vancouver

“Deconstructing Artificial Borders”  (9:10 am to 9:50 am)
Tony Penikett  – Former Yukon Premier and polar research advisor

Tony Penikett will speak about the challenges in building understanding around treaties and also the ongoing work of bringing together polar communities, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, for collaborative action on climate change.

Interviewer: Christina Gray — JFK Law Corporation, Vancouver

Hosted by Emily Martin

Speakers:
Christine Ndilo Kakyema
Christine Kipsang
Minnie Mang’eli
Alex Nyingi
Sellah Rutto
Pauline Wahinya
Phyllis E.N. Wangwe

10:10 – 10:45 AM PDT
Stream C

Workplace Conflict: The Walls that People Build

Mediation is all about tearing down walls and building up communication. People build fortresses around themselves at work, stop all conducive conversations and begin to build an empire of conflict. The biggest complaint is that people are not being heard or understood. Most workplace conflicts do not belong in the courts. They need to be deconstructed, understood and rebuilt on healthier relationships. James Cook and Alice Shikina will discuss the nature of conflict in the workplace and the ways to deal with larger organizational turmoil and how to deconstruct those walls in order to begin to build bridges.

James Cook — John L. Burris Law, Oakland, CA
Alice Shikina — Mediator/Negotiation Coach, Shikina Mediation & Arbitration, Oakland, CA

________________________________________

10:50 – 11:59 AM PDT
Stream C

Borders, Barriers and Blinders—Stop Boxing It Up!

Discussion with three highly experienced mediators on the use and danger of labels such as bully, harasser, victim, perpetrator, racist, accused, trouble maker in a conflict resolution process. We’ll ask what we can learn when we move past labels and discuss how showing up as your whole self and allowing participants their full humanity improves the resolution process for you as a mediator and for the participants.

Shelina Neallani — Lawyer, Mediator, Conflict Consultant, West Vancouver
Kyra L. Hudson — Lawyer, Mediator, Workplace Investigator, North Vancouver
Yuki Matsuno — Lawyer, Mediator, Workplace Investigator, North Vancouver

________________________________________

11:25 – 11:59 AM PDT
Stream B

Gates for Fences—How I Learned to Love the Differences at the Table

During this presentation, your Favourite Uncle Jer will discuss and explore the benefits of acknowledging and highlighting differences between parties in a mediation session and its value to decision making process and agreements made. Also, along the way we’ll explore the similarities between high conflict mediation and cooking competition shows.

Jereme Brooks — Program Manager, Child Protection Mediation Program & RONIN Dispute Resolution Services, Langley

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BREAK (12:00-1:00 PM PDT)

________________________________________

1:00 – 2:00 PM PDT
Stream A

A Conversation About Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls and 2-Spirit People

The Honourable Marion R. Buller — Anmore, BC
Chief Judge Abby Abinanti

Interviewer:
Colleen Spier — Spier & Company Law, Victoria

1:00 – 1:40 PM PDT
Stream B

COVID-19 False Dichotomies

Dr. Kevin Escandón

1:00 – 1:55 PM PDT
Stream C

Don’t Be Another Brick in the Wall… Breaking Down Borders between Mentors and Mentees

Mentors must acknowledge that there is a border between them and their mentees. They have experience. And while they both have skills, mentees are further developing them and may lack the confidence to break down the wall. So, a mentor must be aware of the power imbalance and work through difficulties to elevate the learning experience for both the mentor and mentee.

Come watch a video with tools and tips and engage in a thoughtful discussion about mentoring and the value of deconstructing the artificial border between participants.

Julie Daum — Mediator, Fraser Lake & Northern BC
Georgina Delimari — Mediator, Victoria
Vivian A. Kerenyi — Lawyer & Mediator, Vancouver
Wendy Lakusta — Mediator, White Rock

1:50 – 2:35 PM PDT
Stream B

Moral Boundaries and Q&A

Moral Imagination as a Path to Peace: A Story of Disenfranchisement and Loss

This presentation recounts one very personal conflict with two siblings who challenged my right to vote in the 2020 US election. I am a dual US and Canadian citizen, having called Canada home for the last two decades. In 2020, I forfeited my right to vote as the most viable path to peace. While the forfeiture of my vote resolved the legal conflict, the personal conflict persists. The emotional borders have been drawn for safety. The walls are up with no will to dismantle them. As a mediator and a member of a once-upon-a-time family, I am working through the grief and the options for peace on this side of the wall.

Lori Charvat — Principal & CEO, Sandbox Consulting, Vancouver

Healing Community Divisions: Using Mediator Tools to Transform Mindsets

The idea that people must be divided on one side or the other creates harmful artificial boundaries in our communities. Boundaries between people are imaginary and socially constructed, but with real consequences that can undermine community relationships and community well-being.

Our presentation will talk about Growth Mindset versus a Fixed Mindset, the impacts of both and how we can work toward a Growth Mindset that creates positive change.  Mediation skills naturally support growth mindset. We will show how some basic mediation skills can be used to become better communicators, better listeners and how we can bring those skills to the larger community.

Ona Lawrence — MS Program Manager, Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center, Hood River, OR
Lori Loranger — Services Coordinator, Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center, Hood River, OR
Debra Pennington Davis, MF — Program Assistant, Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Centre, Hood River, OR

Deconstructing Moral Borders

As political lines are being drawn in new areas such as our health, families, workplaces and societies are becoming more divided. People are becoming more divided through echo-chambers, ‘cancel’ling, and protests. These moral borders result in less communication, less solution-building, and thereby less progress. This talk aims to give the audience tips on how to find common moral ground to ensure conversation stays open and respectful, even when emotions are high.

Lauren Florko, Ph.D. — Principal Consultant, Triple Threat Consulting, Vancouver

2:05– 2:35 PM PDT
Stream C

Collaborative Competencies

Collaborative governance is an approach to public policy that helps parties reach across political, cultural, social, physical, and geographical boundaries, in order to overcome conflict, seek mutual understanding and common ground, and identify areas for mutual gains. But collaboration is not easy or natural for many people. Most benefit from assistance to help increase their capacity to initiate, participate in, and/or lead collaborative public policy efforts. This fun and interactive session will review the University Network for Collaborative Governance’s Collaborative Competencies Framework, which provides an overview of the concrete skills needed to initiate and participate in collaborative approaches to public issues.

Michael Kern, MPA — Director, William D. Ruchelshaus Center/Associate Professor, Washington State University Extension/Affiliate Associate Professor, University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, Seattle

2:10– 3:30 PM PDT
Stream A

Older Than the Crown: Overturning the Declaration of Extinction of the Sinixt People

Shelly Boyd
Derrick LaMere

2:45– 4:00 PM PDT
Stream B

Faith-based Conflict Resolution: Panel Discussion

Anne Bachle Fifer
Laura Benghal
Salim M. Hirji — Hirji Law Corporation, Vancouver
Terry S. Neiman — Quodlibet Consulting Inc., Vancouver

2:45– 4:00 PM PDT
Stream C

Preparing for a Difficult Conversation

We believe that there are some often-overlooked preparation steps. You could think of these as pre-preparation steps because they entail actions you can take prior to focusing on the actual engagement and communication with the other party: 

• find your motivation
• build your power
• set it up well

By putting you in Zoom breakout room pairs or triads, and with specific instructions, we will provide you the opportunity to try out in real-time how to take these steps. We will also explain how we have been experimenting with our 8-step Difficult Conversation model to initiate culture change in organizations.

Julia Menard, M.Ed., CertConRes, PCC — Mediator, On Conflict Leadership Institute, Victoria
Gordon White, MBA — Mediator, On Conflict Leadership Institute, Victoria

5:00– 6:30 PM PDT
Stream A

Unconventional Professional Development Panel

Kelly Dermody
Dr. Clare Fowler — Executive Vice-President at Mediate.com and Faculty at University of Oregon Law School, Veneta, OR
D.A. Graham
Samantha Grant
Ann Lee
Emily H. Martin
Darsey Meredith
Lori van Niekerk

6:30 – 8:00 PM PDT
Stream A

Creating Your Faciliation Toolkit: A Mini Game Jam

Emily H. Martin
Sharon Sutherland — Mediate BC, Vancouver

 

October 22, 2021

9:00 – 9:30 AM PDT
Stream A

IUU Fishing: Crossing the Border between Land and Sea

Amy Louise Hall
Regina Paulose

9:00 – 10:00 AM PDT
Stream B

Thinking Outside of the Box: Expanding Our Ideas of “Family”

Amanda Singer
Zara Suleman — Suleman Family Law, North Vancouver
Catherine Wong

9:00 – 10:15 AM PDT
Stream C

How a Good Idea Became a Bad Idea: Putting the Brakes on Non-Disclosure Agreements

The ability to protect confidential trade/research information in a non-disclosure agreement seemed reasonable – until NDAs started to appear in almost every area of civil settlement including sexual assault and abuse, product liability, construction defects, workplace terminations, human rights complaints, even personal injury cases. Far from narrowly drawn trade secrets, NDAs are now routinely used (along with non-disparagement clauses) to suppress discussion following a settlement of any type of bad experience including discrimination and harassment and sometimes potential crimes, treating these as if they are “trade secrets”. In the face of coming legislation to restrict the enforceability of NDAs in the US, Canada, Ireland, England & Wales what should mediators and lawyers be thinking and doing to be both proactive and ethical?

Professor Julie Macfarlane – Director of Strategic Innovation

9:35 – 9:50 AM PDT
Stream A

Ending Fisheries Conflict: An Elusive Catch

Fisheries conflicts exist in different dimensions and scales and continue to evolve as resource users increase while fisheries dwindle. Conflict ranges from local fishermen repulsing migrant fishermen in their localities to country restrictions regarding foreign vessels; or artisanal and recreational fishers competing to meet their needs. This diversity of fisheries users and uses in the same space coupled with the issues of ownership and governance can set the stage for more intense and sustained fisheries conflicts. I will explore these scenarios and the role that mediation can play in management of fisheries conflict.

Sarah Ater, ACIArb

9:50 – 10:20 AM PDT
Stream A

Transforming Water Conflicts Across Boundaries

In facilitating and studying water conflicts around the world, Votteler has come to appreciate both the limitations of the rational models on which we in the West base our understandings of conflict and cooperation, and the wisdom, constructs, and practical tools of the world’s faith traditions and Indigenous communities in working toward deep interactions around contentious issues. In this presentation, we will explore:

• the interweaving of science and politics through, for example, “dueling experts”
• cross-cultural models of understanding the sources of conflict and anger
• deep listening skills for identifying common values
• methods for elevating and nuancing dialogue as pathways to understanding
• techniques for self check-ins for potential conflicts within

Todd H. Votteler, Ph.D — President, Collaborative Water Resolution LLC, Austin, TX

10:25 – 11:00 AM PDT
Stream A

Ecotones: A New Conception of Borderlands

As areas of confluence in the natural world, “ecotones” are especially rich in biodiversity. Viewing ecotones as a concept, we can begin to apply their value in human contexts—in particular, life transitions or crisis moments such as seemingly-impassable conflict. This interactive presentation will offer: 

• a definition of ecotones and examples of their value in natural settings
• a means for “translating” the language of ecology into useful concepts in our work
• a vision for how ecotones, as boundary lands, apply to our mediation and peacemaking efforts

Learn how a new vision of borderlands can invigorate and expand our work.

Dr. Jennifer J. Wilhoit — Founder, TEALarbor Stories, Bainbridge Island, WA

10:05 – 10:35 AM PDT
Stream B

Kids and Cross-Border Parenting: The Importance of Meaningful Participation and Voice

Children and youth are often caught in the middle of parental separation, and that sometimes involves parenting arrangements that extend across borders. The well-being of kids is enhanced when they have meaningful participation and voice in decision-making that affects their lives in significant ways, including where they live and go to school. Using a child-centred approach, this session will discuss child participation and why it is important (referring to ACEs and the UNCRC) and create space for a dialogue about how it can be done safely and effectively.

Kari D. Boyle, LLB — Coordinator, BC Family Justice Innovation Lab, North Vancouver

10:30 – 11:00 AM PDT
Stream C

The Risks of Employment Litigation in a World of Work without Borders

Looking at the globally distributed post-COVID workforce, the room for employment disputes are rife and employers need to review their respective risks from the bird’s eye view of their distributed workplace. In the war for global talent and a global footprint, what laws have jurisdiction over your workplace and can you comply?

• alternative dispute resolution clauses in employment contracts
• avoiding multiple jurisdiction claims (domicile of employee and of HQ company)
• protecting and enforcing the employer’s proprietary interest and NDA undertakings in an agile ever-changing company

Sherisa Rajah Baird — Vice President, Employment Law & Compliance, Elements Global Services, Virginia Water, Surrey, England

10:40 – 10:55 AM PDT
Stream B

Virtual Pro Bono Mediations: Breaking Down Financial and Geographical Barriers

COVID-19 has disrupted the traditional methods used by legal service providers to connect low income and marginalized clients with legal services. In this unprecedented moment of change, technology represents a significant opportunity to enhance service provision to clients by eliminating geographical, administrative, and financial barriers to access to justice. 

The Access Pro Bono has partnered with a local technology start-up, Qase, to enhance the mobilization of pro bono volunteers and the private bar to meet the needs of low income and marginalized clients across the province of BC using an online platform that facilitates real-time bookings between clients and legal service professionals.

Sarah R. Levine, J.D., M.Ed., C.C. — Mediator, Grounded Mediation, Vancouver
Erin Monahan — Project Manager, Access Pro Bono Society of BC, Vancouver

10:55 – 11:00 AM PDT
Stream B

Impact of Grief in Conflict Resolution

Grief easily affects people mentally, emotionally, and physically. Grief may also cause depressions and emptiness. Therefore, it may affect the way in which people make decisions and it is advisable not to make major decisions while in this state of mind. When one goes into a mediation session while in this condition, they need help to make the right decision. The mediator has a big role to play in ensuring that the person grieving does not make a decision that would be regretted later.

Patricia Oketch — Counselling Psychologist and Certified Professional Mediator, Nairobi, Kenya

11:10 – 11:59 AM PDT
Stream C

White Borders: The History of Race and Immigration in the United States from Chinese Exclusion to the Border Wall

White Borders charts the country’s evolution from a small settler colony with open immigration but closed citizenship policies to its present day push for border walls, strict immigration laws, and a massive federal immigration police force. The talk will highlight connections between the Chinese Exclusion laws of the 1880s, the “Keep America American” nativism of the 1920s, and the “Build the Wall” chants of recent years.

Professor Reece Jones — University of Hawai’i

1:00- 1:50 PM PDT
Stream A

Refugees, Borders, and Stories: Supporting Community Dialogue on Polarizing Topics

Dr. Erin Goheen Glanville

2:00- 2:30 PM PDT
Stream A

De-construction Ahead: Examining How Technology Can Break Down Boundaries in the Workplace for BIPOC

A recent study revealed that about 97% of Black employees who are currently working remotely want a hybrid or full-time remote work model moving forward, compared to 79% of their white peers. Office-centric work has been deeply uncomfortable for many minority workers, who are subjected to microaggressions and discrimination, despite decades of efforts to combat this phenomenon. This presentation will hit 5 key points with observations and strategies for moving forward in this new environment. Pandemic concerns aside, work is probably not going back to the way it was, but more importantly, this presentation will examine whether it should.

Commissioner Brenda D. Pryor and Commissioner Stephanie Collier — Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

2:00- 2:55PM PDT
Stream B

Reading Conflict Resolution in Science Fiction Television

Sharon Sutherland — Mediate BC, Vancouver

2:00- 2:30PM PDT
Stream C

Digital Family Justice: Machine Listening, Improvisation and Access to Justice in British Columbia

This presentation will discuss preliminary empirical research emerging from a Canadian Foundation for Legal Research (CFLR)-funded project by the same name, which interrogates whether Digital Family Justice, as currently conceived, meets Access to Justice (A2J) requirements in BC, in which justice is not just about increased accessibility to legal advice and/or judicial decision-making, but also about ensuring individual cases are listened to with the depth and creativity that the singularity of the situation demands—and asks whether machine listening technology can better address these needs?

Kristen Lewis —  Victoria
Dr. Sara Ramshaw — Professor of Law and Director of Cultural, Social and Political Thought (CSPT), University of Victoria, Victoria

2:35- 2:40PM PDT
Stream A

Decentralized Resolution for Africa: To Reset the Unforgotten DR in the Mediation Service Centres DR Alphabet (A Sneak Peak at the European Commission European ODR Platform)

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and ODR have been explored. The session will explore Decentralized Dispute Resolution (DDR) as a framework enabling trust and self-service to the citizens across Africa by development of mediation service centres. Taking a sneak peak at the European ODR platform; the European ODR platform is an online platform used by 31 countries that is available in 25 languages. In the first two years the ODR platform had 4 million visitors, and handled 50,000 complaints. With a monthly average of 3,719 complaints (2018). A dispute may be resolved directly between the trader and the consumer by exchange of messages and photos of the product. Or through an approved dispute resolution body that is listed on the ODR platform within 30 days. 

Wangari Kabiru — Covenor, Wasilianahub Africa, Nairobi Kenya

2:40 – 4:00 PM PDT
Stream C

Tech Tools Show and Tell (Facilitated Workshop)

Roger A. Moss — Vice Chair, Washington State Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Confict Resolution Service, Bainbridge Island, WA
Amanda Semenoff — Mediator, Quarantine Conflict Resolution Service (BC), New Westminster

2:45 – 4:00 PM PDT
Stream A

Barriers and Benefits of Remote Dispute Resolution

As dispute resolution professionals, we may have dabbled in providing our services remotely. But for many, this past year and a half has been a new frontier. Learn how to overcome the obstacles that remote practice may present while also harnessing the positives for both the professional and the client. Tips and suggestions for effective use of remote tools will be offered to help you navigate issues such as working with adversity, managing the emotional climate and supporting clients remotely. As well, we’ll take a look at the future of virtual practice in a post-COVID world.

Lori Brienesse-Frank, Q.Med. — Lori Frank Mediation & Consulting, Victoria
Kellie L. Tennant, BSW, MSW — 2 Worlds Consulting, Counselling & Mediation, Maple Ridge

3:00 – 4:00 PM PDT
Stream B

Indigenous Horror

Julie Daum
Alina Pete

_________________________________________________
BREAK (4:00 – 5:00 PM PDT
_________________________________________________

5:00 – 7:00 PM PDT
Stream A

Deconstructing Borders Watch Party

Join us to watch and discuss documentaries created by speakers at our conference.

But I Was Wearing A Suit Part II  + Q&A with Vikaash Prasad

But I Was Wearing a Suit is a mini-documentary about the racism that Indigenous lawyers and law students face within the legal profession. It is a grassroots project of a group of Indigenous lawyers, produced with the support of the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC and the Law Society of BC. Part I is viewable here.

Borderstory + Q&A with Dr. Erin Goheen Glanville

Borderstory tells a familiar story about the border as the primary tool for citizens’ safety. It seems true because it has been repeated so often. But displaced people tell more interesting, complex stories. Borderstory invites you into a dialogue about borders led by people on the move. What do you believe to be true about borders? What might you learn from other experiences? What’s your border story?

Older Than the Crown + Q&A with Shelly Boyd and Derrick LaMere

Older Than the Crown follows the trial of Sinixt tribal member Rick Desautel who in 2010 was charged with hunting as a non-resident and without a proper permit in Canada. Rick harvested an elk on the ancestral land of the Sinixt people in Vallican, BC, Canada. To the Sinixt, hunting on ancestral land is an Aboriginal right gifted to them by Creator. A right that has legally been denied to the Sinixt people since 1956 when the Canadian government unjustly declared them extinct in Canada, despite the nearly 3,000 members existing on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State. Now with the Desautel Hunting Case, the Sinixt people have a chance to not only bring light to their unjust extinction by the Canadian government, but also abolish the declaration completely.

Evening Conflict Resolution Watch Party (5:00 pm to 7:00 pm)

Join us to watch and discuss documentaries created by speakers at our conference.  Including “Borderstory” and “Older than the Crown” followed with a Q&A with the filmmakers. Dr. Erin Goheen Glanville 

Borderstory tells a familiar story about the border as the primary tool for citizens’ safety. It seems true because it has been repeated so often. But displaced people tell more interesting, complex stories. Borderstory invites you into a dialogue about borders led by people on the move. What do you believe to be true about borders? What might you learn from other experiences? What’s your border story?

Older than the Crown follows the trial of Sinixt tribal member Rick Desautel who in 2010 was charged with hunting as a non resident and without a proper permit in Canada. Rick harvested an elk on the ancestral land of the Sinixt people in Vallican British Columbia Canada. To the Sinixt, hunting on ancestral land is an aboriginal right gifted to them by Creator. A right that has legally been denied to the Sinixt people since 1956 when the Canadian government unjustly declared them extinct in Canada, despite the nearly 3,000 members existing on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State. Now with the Desautel Hunting Case, the Sinixt people have a chance to not only bring light to their unjust extinction by the Canadian government, but also abolish the declaration completely.