Indigenous Health Lead

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Indigenous professional ready to play a leadership role in decolonizing healthcare and advancing health and wellness equity for Indigenous people and the Downtown Eastside (DTES) community. Kilala Lelum strives to offer integrated primary care and allied health services, Elder-led cultural care, engage with Food as Medicine, and a range of specialized programs. We provide in-clinic and outreach-based services in ways that endeavor to center Indigenous cultural healing and Ways of Being/Knowing and to be strength-based, trauma-informed, member-centered, and grounded in harm reduction. Our goal is to contribute to a health system that is accessible, safe, and truly meets the needs and desires of our members.

**Job Summary**:
Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a key member of the Kilala Lelum Leads Circle, the **_Indigenous Health Lead_** has several main functions:

- Acting as lead for cultural wellness activities throughout Kilala Lelum and providing guidance, support, and leadership to a team that includes a Cultural Wellness Manager, Canoe Coordinator, and Cultural Wellness Workers. This role is responsible for the administrative needs of the team (including budget management and reporting to funders) and ensuring the team has the resources necessary to provide services to members.
- Serving as the main support for Elders and Knowledge Holders at Kilala Lelum, including leading the development and implementation of systems that support all Indigenous staff members’ growth and leadership.
- Driving the integration of Indigenous knowledge and medicines into the ways of caring at Kilala Lelum. As part of this important cultural strengthening, this position will also develop and maintain relationships with Host nations, community partners, funders, and relevant stakeholders.

The **_Indigenous Health Lead_** will work closely with the Executive Director and the Kilala Lelum Leads Circle to contribute to steering the organization’s overall operations and development. They will enhance support for our staff and programs, advocate organizational changes and developments, help to embody a culture of care and connection, and foster holistic wellness and decolonization.

**Responsibilities**:
**_ As Lead of the Cultural Wellness Team:_**
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the Cultural Wellness Manager, creating support systems and supporting the creation of knowledge transfer tools.
- Coordinate and/or attend internal meetings, including:

- Regular Kilala Lelum all staff meetings
- Monthly meetings with Executive Director
- Monthly Kilala Lelum Leads meetings
- Two Kilala Lelum Board meetings per year
- Act as the communication link between the Cultural Wellness Manager and the Leads Circle and ensure relevant information and/or input is shared between groups.
- In partnership with the Cultural Wellness Manager, manage the overall budget, guide planning and decision-making, and complete reporting associated with the FNHA (and any other) grant. Support team members to fulfill their responsibilities associated with the grant.
- Create time and space to adequately debrief and support Cultural Wellness Manager leading the team through decision-making and responding to situations that can be complex.
- Work in collaboration with the HR & Admin Lead, Controller, and administrative team to fulfill all administrative and management responsibilities related to the Cultural Wellness team, including hiring, training, and staff supervision.
- Lead and/or contribute to (as appropriate) the development of policies and procedures and/or new initiatives that involve Cultural Wellness and Elders’ services.

**_ As Lead Support for Elders and Knowledge Holders at Kilala Lelum:_**
- Strengthen the roles of Elders, Knowledge Holders, and Cultural Wellness Workers within the continuum of care at Kilala Lelum.
- Manage and schedule monthly Elder/Knowledge Holder debrief circles, staff talking circles, and quarterly Elders Advisory Circles.
- Connect Elders with the First Nations Aboriginal Primary Care Network (FNAPCN).
- Work with the Executive Director to hire Elders and Knowledge Holders, towards succession planning and overall knowledge transmission in a cultural way, and to maintain culturally appropriate hiring protocols and practices to support cultural transmission and generation.

**_ Lead the integration of Indigenous knowledges and medicines into the ways of caring at Kilala Lelum:_**
- Maintain and strengthen relationships with Host Nations, Elders and Knowledge Holders, cultural stakeholders, and land keepers.
- Ensure support (budget, resources, time) for Canoe Program so that Coordinator, key stakeholders and partners, and Kilala Lelum staff continue to integrate teachings into practice.
- With the support of the Executive Director, lead and/or facilitate significant cultural projects and traditional wellness practices with Cultural Wellness tea