Traditional Counselor

**Job description**

**About Us**:
The Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association is a non-profit organization that provides a diverse range of culturally safe and supportive services to Indigenous People residing in the Fraser Region. As a Friendship Centre, we work to strengthen connections to culture, community and wellness and work from a decolonizing perspective. Our philosophy is to provide a culturally safe, collaborative wrap around model of care. We are seeking a highly-engaged individual with an operational background in Youth Services program management for this exciting opportunity. The dynamic individual will have experience in managing a multi-disciplinary team and supporting programs aimed at supporting youth.

**About Surrey**:
The City of Surrey is one of 21 municipalities in Metro Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. We are located on the Lower Mainland on the south side of the Fraser River and share a border with the United States of America. Surrey is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Salish Peoples, including the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), and Semiahma (Semiahmoo) land-based nations.

**Why FRAFCA**:

- opportunity to work alongside cultural knowledge keepers & Elders
- Holistic, culturally safe, approaches to serving our clients and community
- Freedom to share and observe own cultural practices (i.e. smudging in the office)
- Access WorkBC Employers Training grants and other bursaries to fund training & other professional development
- Extended Health Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Travel) and Employee Assistance Plan after 3-months on continuous employment
- 10 annual paid sick/personal leave days
- Paid vacation days (up to 25 days based on years of service)
- Offices located along main transportation routes; main office by the Skytrain station
- Parking available on-site.

Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association is looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Junior Bookkeeper to join our finance team. As a Junior Bookkeeper, you will play a crucial role in maintaining accurate financial records and supporting various accounting functions. This is an excellent opportunity for a student who is looking to kick-start their career in accounting and gain valuable experience in a dynamic and growing organization.

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Working within the context of a client-centered holistic care and the vision, mission and values of the FRAFCA, the Family Wellness Traditional Counsellor is an Elder who offers one-on-one, group counselling and cultural supports to promote the whole person spiritual, emotional, mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing of urban Indigenous families with children under 6. This role also involves providing cultural guidance and incorporating traditional teachings to FRAFCA’s early childhood and family development programs.

The Family Wellness Traditional Counsellor performs his/her duties in alignment with FRAFCA’s vision, mission and values.

**PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Provide one-one one and group counselling to support the whole person spiritual, emotional, mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing of families with children under 6
- Provide cultural guidance and traditional teachings to inform FRAFCA’s early childhood and family development programs
- Offer cultural guidance and support to prenatal and postpartum Indigenous mothers who are also receiving support from the Doula Services Coordinator
- Connect families with other programs and supports and support navigation to other services
- Provide monthly written and statistical reports to the Program Manager
- Provide a culturally safe and supportive environment and promote connectedness and community for families
- Provide cultural guidance to other aspects of FRAFCA’s programming and operations
- Other duties as required.

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- **Education and Experience**:_
- Bachelors Degree in social work, family counselling, human services, psychology, or one of the other behavioural sciences, or equivalent combination of years of experience and education.
- Experience providing counselling through a traditional cultural approach
- Experience working with vulnerable individuals or families in a one-on-one and/or group environment
- Valid driver’s license
- Must be willing to undergo a Criminal Records Check with Ministry of Children and Family Development
- **Key Knowledge Areas**:_
- In-depth knowledge of diverse cultural healing modalities, such as smudging, fasting, sweats, drumming, etc.
- Knowledge of the diversity of Indigenous cultures, identities, lived history and the inter-generational impacts of residential school, and colonization on the individual and the family
- Knowledge of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, organizations and service providers within the Fraser Region
- Knowledge of Child, Family and Community Service Act or how to navigate the various legislatio