Julie Daum—In the Spotlight

Practice Point

Julie Daum—In the Spotlight
4
Aug

August 2020

This month’s contributor spotlight is on Julie Daum, Mediator. Julie is a long-time CLEBC contributor who presents at numerous CLEBC courses related to family law and mediation.

How did you first get involved with CLEBC?
I first became involved with CLEBC when I joined the team of coaches in the Family Mediation training when Sally Campbell was teaching. I really enjoyed coaching those courses.

What are you currently working on (or have most recently worked on) with CLEBC?
Most recently, I coached the Advanced Family Mediation course and the Screening for Family Violence course on-line. I was excited to be invited to coach especially since I could do it from the comfort and safety of my home in the Central Interior.

What inspired you to become a mediator?
I was taking the Negotiation Skills program through the Justice Institute being offered in Burns Lake and learned about the skills and practice of mediation. I was intrigued and encouraged by the wonderful instructors and coaches that came up to teach, and spurred on by the need in the Indigenous communities that I was part of serving as a Board member for Carrier Sekani Family Services. They launched a training and practicum project that helped community members get on the Child Protection Roster.

Apart from your mediation work, you also facilitate workshops on delivering culturally appropriate practices for working with First Nations families and communities. Can you tell us more about that?
I am a member of the Wet’suwet’en nation, Gilseyu clan, and was raised in this knowledge in our home territory. I believe that while working in the territories of Indigenous peoples, we need to practice cultural humility. My role while I was at the local community college was to help the faculty, staff, and leadership understand and learn cultural differences and it grew to assist other professionals delivering services in the area, from health care professionals, teachers, forestry workers, RCMP and municipal governments.

What advice would you pass on to someone who wants to become a mediator?
Find a mentor, adding value to the mentor’s practice can be helpful, and I was also lucky to have a great cohort that I did my training with and we supported each other, I really enjoyed co-mediating with peers and mentors along the way.

Other than your work, what are you passionate about?
My volunteer work with Mediate BC and I am grateful that I have been joined by others in forming a Calls to Action Committee for Mediate BC, which will focus on the TRC Calls to Action. Other fun things I am passionate about are wearing and collecting Fluevogs; you usually can see me sporting a pair.