Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

**EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY**

**Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Liaison Unit Director**

**Full Time - Location: Winnipeg, MB or Thompson, MB**

Under the direction of the MKO Executive Director, the **MMIWG Liaison/Director** will lead and support the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Liaison Unit at Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO). This role involves providing leadership, expertise, and coordination to ensure culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and dignified health and wellness services are delivered to families, survivors, and communities affected by MMIWG and gender-based violence.

The MMIWG Liaison/Director will work directly with survivors of gender-based violence, families of MMIWG and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals and impacted communities across Manitoba—including First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Non-Status, and non-Indigenous people. The incumbent will assist families and survivors in accessing services such as short-term counselling, safety planning, risk assessments, and referrals to appropriate community programs and supports. They will also provide general information about the criminal justice system and support families in navigating complex systems to obtain answers and updates related to their loved ones.

This role involves liaising with a variety of external partners—including Victim Services, the Winnipeg Police Service Family Liaison Contact, the RCMP, Indigenous-led organizations, legal aid services, healthcare providers, and social service agencies—to ensure families’ questions and concerns are addressed in a timely, respectful, and coordinated manner.

The MMIWG Liaison/Director will also support the implementation of MKO Assembly and Executive Council resolutions related to MMIWG and will carry out directives and recommendations from the MKO Executive Council to address systemic issues impacting MKO First Nations.

**Role and Responsibilities**

**Client Contact**
- Provide and/or arrange the provision of short-term safe and culturally appropriate mental wellness supports for MMIWG2S+ families and survivors of gender-based violence, while respecting individual and family beliefs, traditions, customs, and spirituality.
- Respond to requests and provide information about community programs/services to MMIWG2S+ family members and survivors of gender-based violence as required.
- Review and assess all incoming referrals/diversions for suitability/eligibility for Program.
- Act as a liaison between MMIWG2S+ family members and external agencies—including Victim Services, the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) Family Liaison Contact, and other relevant government departments or law enforcement agencies—to ensure timely communication and that families’ questions and concerns are addressed appropriately.
- Respond to urgent concerns of family members by identifying their immediate physical, social, and emotional needs and strategize how these needs may be met.
- Be knowledgeable and provide general information regarding the Criminal Justice system, short-term counselling, risk assessments, safety planning, and provide referrals to community programs as required.
- Provide family members with an overview of the range of community and Justice-related programs, services, and supports available.
- Plan, coordinate, and deliver healing, wellness, and other related workshops and programming to individuals impacted by MMIWG2S+ and survivors of gender-based.
- Refer MMIWG2S+ families and survivors of gender-based violence to Elders, Traditional Healers, and Knowledge Keepers as requested and provide ongoing follow.
- Plan, coordinate, and facilitate in-person meetings with families of MMIWG2S+ and community agencies to ensure families receive comprehensive wraparound supports.
- Attend, support, and plan community events and gatherings in support of MMIWG2S+ family members.
- Partner with community agencies to providing healing opportunities and wellness supports for MMIWG2S+ families and survivors of gender-based violence.

**Developing and Monitoring Case Management Plans**
- Exercise independent and collaborative decision-making skills to prioritize cases and to determine the most appropriate course of action.
- Assist individuals or families in developing wellness and safety plans, including setting wellness goals to cope with negative emotions.
- Address emotional variability by defusing situations and debriefing with MMIWG2S+ families and survivors of gender-based violence in a dignified, trauma-informed, and respectful manner.
- Document all contacts with designated individuals, other family members, or staff from allied agencies, noting: information provided, assistance offered, referrals, etc.
- Provide updates and information about the police procedures and the court process, and explain the complexities of the justice system and assist individuals and families in understanding legal decisions.
- Attend Court hearings and provide and/or arrange healt