Native Students Taking Part In Mediation Class

Monday, March 31, 2008 at 14:22

 

 

A professor from Toronto says he has found that traditional Aboriginal approaches to conflict resolution work better than orders coming from the court system.

 

Dr. Desmond Ellice of York University is visiting Prince Albert this week to teach a class on mediation and conflict resolution.

 

A total of 15 First Nations students are learning methods of defusing situations that might otherwise head to court.

 

Ellice says much of the technique for mediation is similar throughout the world — but he notes cultural surroundings do influence the process.

 

One of those signed up for the class is Rose Skillington, a social worker from Sandy Bay.

 

She says she wants to take her new skills back to the community.

 

Skillington says it’s always better to have families sort out their problems, instead of a child and family services unit or a judge.