FT Cultural Foundations Coordinator

Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) is a diverse, dynamic, multiservice Indigenous health and wellness agency.  We strive to provide quality, wholistic health services by sharing and promoting traditional and western health practices to enable people to live in a more balanced state of well-being. SOAHAC provides services to Indigenous people including those who live on and off reserve, status, non-status, Inuit, and Metis within the Southwest, Waterloo Wellington and Erie St Clair regions. SOAHAC has a mandate of ensuring that health services are accessible, of high quality, and are culturally appropriate. It is SOAHAC’s objective to build health care capacity within Indigenous communities.  Currently, we are seeking the services of a Cultural Foundations Coordinator to join our interdisciplinary staff team to support all SOAHAC sites.

Reporting to the Director, Quality and HealthEquity and working directly with the Manager of Traditional Healing and the Indigenous Cultural Safety Facilitator, the Cultural Foundations Coordinator will work collaboratively to develop and deliver locally accepted culturally safe practices for SOAHAC in consultation with Indigenous communities and cultural practitioners to facilitate preservation and promotion.  This position will play a key role ingathering and disseminating Client feedback to ensure the consistent provision of high-quality Client care, grounded in culture across all sites.

Requirements

· Bachelor’s degree in social work, Indigenous Studies, Mental Health or other relevant program of study.

· Three (3) years’ experience in a First Nation Community, health care or social services organization developing and delivering cultural programs and services.

· Experience working with Indigenous organizations and communities.

· Experience with cultural practice education an asset.  

· Experience working with cultural practitioners within communities and familiarity with two-eyed health environments.

· Experience in circle facilitation as an asset.

· Demonstrated facilitation and presentation skills

· Excellent computer skills with MS Office software

· Strong interpersonal skills

· Excellent oral and written communication skills

· Excellent organizational and planning skills

· Excellent time management skills

· Ability to adapt to changing environments.

· Ability to work within a team environment.

· Ability to take initiative and work independently.

· Willingness to participate teachings, ceremonies and ongoing Indigenous learning

· Clean and current vulnerable sector police check as a condition of employment

· Valid government issued driver’s license and access to reliable vehicle

· Updated immunizations and records

Responsibilities

· Coordinate and facilitate various community and organization wide gatherings to develop culturally safe practices for staff, communities, and clients.

· Maintain a resource list of cultural people, resources, and Elders for SOAHAC.

· Work with Cultural Practitioners to develop and maintain protocols and best practices for the Cultural Foundations manual.

· Develop and implement a cultural Orientation plan for staff on cultural practices in collaboration with the Knowledge Keepers and Cultural Practitioners.

· Coordinate Training for SOAHAC staff about cultural practices, teachings, ceremonies, and traditions that workers can implement in day-to-day practices.

· Coordinate implementation of cultural teachings and ceremonies as required. some text

• Coordinate training for SOAHAC partners on cultural practices, teachings, and ceremonies to ensure consistently unified and culturally appropriate helping process.
• Support all SOAHAC meetings and gatherings reflect cultural practices to guide discussions and decisions.  
• Establish linkages to community traditional helpers.
• Liaise with Indigenous communities to promote cultural resources.

· Actively participate in internal, external, local, and regional committees/groups in support of the provision of culturally safe, high-quality care at SOAHAC and the promotion of the SafeSpace Network across southwestern Ontario

· Coordinate and lead discussions during engagement circles to gather feedback.

· Actively participate in the engagement circles and other internal committees/groups in support of services to the communities as required.

· Collaborate with internal and external agencies to provide quality cultural programs and services to the communities.

· Promote and connect mainstream partners across southwestern Ontario to the SafeSpace Network

· Guide the dissemination of the reporting links to points across southwest Ontario where client concerns and compliments. ​

· Identify and support Champions for network promotion.

· Identify, support, and encourage mainstream organizations to make meaningful change based on emerging patterns​.

This job may require additional responsibilities and duties as assigned by Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre.

SOAHAC values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer; however, hiring preference will be given to qualified Indigenous applicants. SOAHAC is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please advise Human Resources.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please forward your cover letter and resume to careers@soahac.on.ca.