CPD Registration Page
Indigenous Law: How to Conduct a Respectful Cross-Examination
DATE & TIME
Thursday, November 21, 2024
11am PT | 12pm MT | 1pm CT | 2pm ET
Register Now
Conducting a respectful cross-examination of an Indigenous witness – particularly an Indigenous elder – requires understanding not just the relevant practice directives but also the unique historical and cultural context. So how do we establish a respectful rapport and build trust in an adversarial setting?
Join us as we discuss best practices for approaching your cross-examination of an Indigenous witness
IN THIS WEBINAR WE WILL COVER:
- The historical backdrop that has shaped Indigenous law
- Relevant practice directives and hearsay rule exceptions
- Cultural differences and sacred Indigenous teachings
- Tips on building mutual trust and respect
- Procedural considerations to ensure a smooth proceeding
REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR
Indigenous Law: How to Conduct a Respectful Cross-Examination
Host:
Christy Pratt, RCR, RPR, CLR
Presenters:
Michael P. Doherty, BA, MA, LLB, MJur, PhD
Mike Parkhill, O.Ont, MSM
Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
Time: 11am PT / 12pm MT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET
COURSE CREDIT DETAILS
This course is approved in British Columbia for 1 (one) hour of CPD credit. Please check with your provincial law society regarding CPD credit requirements.
Members of the Law Society of Saskatchewan are no longer required to submit CPD activities for approval by the Law Society. Members must continue to complete and report (in their Member Profile) at least 12 CPD hours (including 2 which qualify as ethics hours) in 2024.
The Law Society of Manitoba does not formally accredit or pre-approve any programs for CPD reporting purposes, instead, it is up to practicing members to determine if a particular CPD activity meets our requirements, and if so they may report those CPD hours.
The Law Society of Ontario, Substantive Hours do not require accreditation. However, annually, lawyers should conduct their assessment and confirm that their CPD programs or eligible activities maintain or enhance their professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the context of their practice and professional development.
MEET THE CPD PRESENTERS
Christy Pratt (HOST)
RCR, RPR, CLR Principal Veritext Canada
Christy Pratt is the principal at Veritext Canada, the national leader in legal technology and e-solutions. Prior to joining Veritext she was the owner of Reportex Agencies in British Columbia for over 15 years. Christy has been a realtime reporter for over 25 years, with a special interest in Indigenous rights/title and Charter challenge cases. Christy has reported several landmark trials, including William (Tsilhqot’in Nation), West Moberly (Treaty 8 Boundary), Cambie Surgeries, Thomas (Saik’uz/Stellat’en Nations) and the Cowichan Tribes.
Having worked on land claim trials for the majority of her 25-year court reporting career, Indigenous language is a topic that is particularly close to Christy’s heart. She has worked with hundreds of elders, community members and traditional word spellers, and she collaborates with counsel to create alignment between the parties and the court reporter on spelling and style protocols.
As an expert in realtime reporting and the transcription of Indigenous language, Christy regularly presents webinars on the benefits of realtime, how to effectively conduct an electronic trial and best practices for capturing oral Indigenous testimony.
Michael P. Doherty
B.A., M.A., LL.B., M.Jur., Ph.D
Michael P. Doherty, B.A., M.A., LL.B., M.Jur., Ph.D., was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1989. He practiced Aboriginal law with the federal Department of Justice from 2004 to 2018 and with the Attorney General of British Columbia from 2020 to 2024.
Dr. Doherty was litigation counsel on numerous Aboriginal rights and title files, including Tsilhqot’in and Ahousaht. That work involved cross-examining dozens of Indigenous elders from a number of different First Nations, which in turn led to him presenting seminars to other government lawyers about how to respectfully conduct such cross-examinations.
The subject of Dr. Doherty’s PhD thesis was his proposal for a previously-unrecognized Aboriginal right to control resource use in those areas where Indigenous groups had exclusive control but not occupation before the assertion of sovereignty.
Dr. Doherty has taught law at Langara College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and the University of Victoria. His books include The Portable Guide to Evidence, British Columbia Environmental Law Statutes, and TEN: Rules for Being a Good Person in the 21stCentury.
Mike Parkhill
O.Ont., MSM.
Founder of SayITFirst
Mike Parkhill left his executive career at Microsoft Canada to start a company dedicated to helping Indigenous communities develop more speakers today than existed yesterday. Mike adds diversity to each program in the sense that in a support role, he can help communities try new solutions to reverse language loss. For his results and impact on Indigenous communities, Mike has received the Order of Ontario, the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal, NYX international Video Best Canadian Cultural Video and Best Canadian Educational video for Creation of the Koko Jones Children shows and is a 5 time Canadian Best Selling author.