Cultural Mentor

Term: January 2, 2022 – March 31, 2023

Position Type: Full Time – 30 hours per week (5 days per week)

Salary: $28.00 per hour. This position also qualifies for fully funded benefits.

Location: House at Catherine St.

Hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays

About Catherine St. House: The ACEH’s culturally-supportive housing at Catherine Street will be opening in April 2022. The housing has 45 units, and it has Indigenous Alcohol Harm Reduction Program on site serving 12 individuals and one unit for the Decolonized Alcohol Detox program which focuses on pre, during, and post detox treatment with a team that includes a registered nurse, cultural mentor, and elder, with oversight from a physician. The team also works with a land-based healing coordinator and an Indigenous Alcohol Harm Reduction Coordinator. Between January and April, the team will work together to develop the programming, build relationships with the family members (residents), engage in training and orientation, begin to work one-on-one with individuals moving in to develop wellness plans, strengthen and develop policies and processes, all in preparation of Catherine Street house opening. The Cultural Mentor position is new to the organization, and therefore we are looking for individuals that are interested in being part of a new project and the additional challenges that come with developing something new.

JOB SUMMARY: This position will be Indigenous specific, may have lived experience and must have Indigenous ancestry and knowledge of traditional healing practices and land-based protocols.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Assigned to plan and facilitate cultural care pre, during detox and post-detox which will also include land-based healing and traditional teachings such as drum making, BBQ fish, berry picking, canning, harvesting traditional plants and medicines.

· Cultural Mentor may also be assigned to support other family members in the house, will require some land-based and overnight duties, and should possess the experience skills to liaise as traditional teachers to transmit knowledge related to protocols and cultural teachings. Being mobile is a must considering the land-based components of the responsibilities

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities:

• Progressive understanding of persistent mental illness, addictions, and other challenges and how these impact people’s overall health, well-being, and quality of life

• Ability to work in a holistic, professional, and non-judgmental manner as you are working with a broad range of personalities, needs, cultures, lived experiences and abilities

• Ability to effectively respond and adjust to unexpected events, assess high risk situations, problem-solve, provide crisis intervention, and manage conflict in a culturally supportive manner

• Effective written, electronic, and verbal communication skills to facilitate interprofessional collaborative practice, healthy and culturally safe environments, and a respectful workplace for community members, staff, guests, and volunteers

• Sound understanding of the intergenerational trauma that occurs because of colonization, Residential Schools, Sixties Scoop, and other oppressive systems as well as the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada
• Required to be mobile.

The ACEHS values strength in diversity. As an inclusive employer that celebrates the gifts of all its staff, the ACEHS encourages members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to apply.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter which highlights how your knowledge, skills and abilities will culturally support and contribute to the ACEHS and our community.

Contract length: 15 months

Expected start date: 2022-01-02

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Salary: $28.00 per hour