Mandatory Cultural Competency Course
Mandatory Cultural Competency Course
By March 31, 2023, the end of the renewal period for the 2023/24 year, all active members of the Law Society will be required to have completed either:
- The Path – Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada or
- An Introduction to Living Well Together
- The University of Alberta’s “Indigenous Canada”
The Path is an online program developed by the CBA. It consists of five online modules consisting of videos and quizzes. Content focuses on the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada, the history of Indigenous peoples and their relationship with European settlers, the British Crown and the Dominion of Canada.
You do not need to be a CBA member to take this program. You will need to register on the CBA website as part of the sign in process. To register, please contact [email protected] . We will provide you with a code to register for free.
Living Well Together is a self-directed learning program created by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Though designed for GNWT employees, this program is available to the public as well.
The content of the training is provided in eight modules, or series. The first, the Truth Series, focuses on awareness about colonization, residential schools and Indigenous/non-Indigenous relations. The Reconciliation Series focuses on developing cultural sensitivity and the practice of reconciliation.
The link to Living Well Together is here.
The University of Alberta’s Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores complex experiences Indigenous peoples face today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.
Indigenous Canada is for students from faculties outside the Faculty of Native Studies with an interest in acquiring a basic familiarity with Indigenous/non-Indigenous relationships.
You can register for Indigenous Canada here
All of these programs also count toward your annual CPD requirement.
When you renew your membership in early 2023, you will be required to confirm that you have taken one of these programs. Indigenous Canada is not currently featured on the Renewals page. Select The Path and make a note of the course in the notes in the interim.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do these courses cost anything?
No. Any fees associated with the approved courses are covered by the Law Society.
2. I have taken Law Society of British Columbia’s mandatory Indigenous intercultural cultural course. Does this make make me exempt from the approved courses offered by the Law Society of the Northwest Territories?
No. You will still need to complete one of LSNT’s three approved courses.
3. My firm would like to review the course materials as a group. Is this permitted?
Yes. We encourage discussion and collaboration in taking any of these courses. Each practicing member is required to individually certify that they have completed the course.
4. Can I be exempted from taking the course because I am Indigenous?
No. The Law Society of the Northwest Territories Reconciliation and the Law Society Committee recognizes that Indigenous lawyers will not know everything about the topics listed in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call to action or about Indigenous communities outside of their own. These courses cover a wide range of topics and is meant to be engaging for all learners, including those with lived experience and pre-existing knowledge.
5. Do I have to take the course if I am worried about being emotionally triggered?
Yes. The courses cover a range of topics and not all content is emotionally triggering. There are content warnings to flag potentially triggering content. The Government of the Northwest Territories offers resources for support here.
