While there are probably regional and local differences, increasingly mediators are being asked to work with families from a variety of native lands and cultures. This challenges the mediator and their process as fundamental principles of mediation may not always translate smoothly into those cultures and the disputes that will arise in a North American context. While there cannot be one answer to fit all cases, this teleseminar will explore the impact of culture on dispute resolution citing various examples involving first generation immigrants and Native American families.

Evan Ash

Evan has been a domestic mediator in Kansas=s Tenth Judicial District since 1995, and serves as the supervisor for its clinical mediation programs. His mediating experience began informally as a chaplain, and later with the Wichita Neighborhood Justice Center. He has taught mediation courses at Johnson County Community College and Missouri Western State University, made numerous presentations and written articles on mediation, grief and bereavement, anger, and other related topics. He is a past President of the Heartland Mediators Association and a member of the Standards/Ethics Sub-Committee of the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration=s Dispute Resolution Advisory Council. He is certified as an Advanced Practitioner of the Association for Conflict Resolution and served on the Family Section Advisory Council. He holds masters degrees from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and the University of Nebraska. As an Episcopal Priest, he has served parishes and institutions in Nebraska, Oregon, and Kansas.