Cultural Practitioner

January 24, 2025

North Bay Indigenous Hub – Giiwedno Mshkikiiwgamig

Employment Opportunity

CULTURAL PRACTITIONER

Temporary Full-time (9 months) – Comp # NBIH-2025-01-25

Location:  1040 Brookes Street in the Traditional Department

The North Bay Indigenous Hub (NBIH) will provide a wide range of programming services including traditional healing, primary care, health promotion, chronic disease management, family-focused maternal/child health care, mental wellness care, diabetes care, and a culturally integrated licensed day care facility. All of the programs are to be delivered in a culturally safe manner to the local urban Indigenous population in addition to our partner First Nations, Nipissing, Temagami and Dokis First Nations. This new Indigenous Primary Health Care team seeks a motivated, self-starter who is passionate about positive health outcomes for Indigenous people.

Under the direction of the Executive Director of the North Bay Indigenous Hub (NBIH), this position will be responsible to assist in the delivery of culturally competent and safe health and patient care management as part of an inter-professional team at the North Bay Indigenous Hub (NBIH).

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Major Subjects/Specialties – Traditional Educator/Facilitator; Social Worker; Healing and Wellness Educator; Ceremonial Helper
  • Demonstrated traditional knowledge acquired through direct work experience with Elders/Healers/Medicine people
  • Social Services or Humanities diploma/degree is an asset
  • Indigenous language speaker an asset
  • Evidence to demonstrate knowledge and skills in traditional holistic care, one to one client care, development, research, coaching and mentoring skills, administration and quality improvement
  • A minimum of 5 years’ experience working in a Traditional and Cultural role as a Healing Facilitator/Elder/Traditional Helper/OShkaabewis(kwe)
  • Clinical experience and documentation skills
  • Language carrier is an asset
  • Currently being mentored in their own spiritual healing and learning
  • Experience with healing methods of local Indigenous groups an asset
  • Valid Class G Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

  • Local Indigenous traditional healing methodology
  • Medicinal plant identification, preparation, and ceremonial uses
  • Ceremonial spiritual practices
  • Knowledge of the Indigenous community of North Bay and partner First Nations:  Nipissing, Dokis and Temagami First Nations
  • Contribute by sharing traditional learning and experiences
  • Appreciation and respect of peers’ cultural knowledge and understanding
  • Indigenous healthy lifestyles practices
  • Health and Social determinants affecting Indigenous people
  • Ability to work with multi-national Indigenous groups and elements of their cultures including Indigenous spirituality, physical activity, and healing methodology
  • Public Speaking
  • Computer skills (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
  • Documentation skills and clinical knowledge
  • Ability to work in a kind, supportive manner with Indigenous people and families
  • Cultural Safety Training or willingness to obtain upon employment

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Manage and carry out traditional healing/counselling/spiritual services in accord with local Indigenous cultural paradigms and practices
  • Support traditional Healers to provide traditional healing services to Indigenous people and their families in clinical and community settings, ceremonial rooms, and within ceremonial sites as appropriate
  • Consult with Traditional Healing Coordinator about scheduling of services, program development and other service related tasks
  • Active participation in regular Traditional Healing Service and in Primary Care meetings
  • Assist staff and partnering agencies/communities in understanding the cultural perspectives of health care and illness utilizing ceremony and Indigenous healing methodology.
  • Provide traditional educations on disease process, health maintenance and the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the prevention of illness.
  • Support local Indigenous healing methodology, practices, and treatment procedures, including simple ceremonies, feasts, and blessings and community-wide teachings and spiritual ceremonies.
  • Make referrals to other Indigenous practitioners and/or health care staff for complex traditional therapies and or other health care services.
  • Ensure documentation of all patient care services into appropriate medical records as per NBIH policies and procedures.
  • Screening, assessing, providing referrals and scheduling Traditional Healing Program appointments.
  • Partner to integrate and reinforce concepts of holistic health from an Indigenous perspective.
  • Seek advice and direction of Elders, Herbalists, Spiritual Healers and Medicine people concerning the ongoing development of this initiative.
  • Foster a positive environment through direct consultation with Elders, Traditional Healers, Herbalists and Medicine people in Traditional Healing Methods.
  • Mitigate risk of cultural and spiritual harm for NBIH clients, staff and community
  • Prepare the healing/ceremony room in accordance to local traditional/ceremonial practices.
  • Advise individuals and groups on respective protocol for visiting Traditional Healers and Elders.
  • Ensure that documentation occurs during the visit and is made available to medical secretaries to scan into Electronic Medical Records.
  • Provide information and/or guidance regarding Traditional values and spirituality to a diverse core population including Ojibwa/Chippewa (Anishinaabe), Cree and Haudenosaunee Nations (Oneida, Mohawk, Seneca, Tuscarora, Cayuga, Onondaga)
  • Facilitate and assist Cultural safety trainer with cross-cultural workshops and/or seminars.
  • Maintain the integrity of NBIH’s core of Traditional Indigenous values within policy
  • Create and administer client/participant evaluation forms to ensure community input
  • Advocate on behalf of the community members with regard to equitable access to traditional healing and health services
  • Ensure that effective and efficient use is made of all resources available to the NBIH in order to respond to the healing and wellness needs of the community
  • Be responsible for attending staff meetings; participating in ongoing staff development and training;
  • Willingness to participate in ongoing education in the areas of Indigenous Language, Culture and Healing practices
  • Must be willing to travel to our partner First Nations

As a condition of employment,

  • Provide a current or recent Criminal Police Check with Vulnerable sector.

Qualified applicants are invited to submit a letter of interest, resume and three (3) current references no later than 4:30pm on Friday, February 7, 2025 to:

 

Ashley Patey, Human Resources Officer

North Bay Indigenous Hub

3B Maang Road, Nipissing First Nation

North Bay, ON P1B 8G5

 

Miigwech to all who apply. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Preference will be given to qualified Indigenous applicants. However, the position is open to all applicants.