Indigenous Knowledge Specialist

**_Taking action for the ocean today, so we can all flourish tomorrow._**

Ocean Wise is the world-class ocean change maker for concerned collaborators; big and small who want practical solutions with real impact so that they feel empowered and take action to protect oceans, humanity, and the world we live in.

**ROLE OVERVIEW**

Ocean Wise is a globally focused conservation organization on a mission to protect and restore the world’s oceans. Through research, education, direct-action conservation and field projects, we empower communities to take action for ocean health. We’re focused on tackling three major ocean challenges: overfishing, ocean pollution and climate change. Ocean Wise is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia with staff across Canada and initiatives around the world. We deliver our work through five initiatives: Plastics & Pollution, Fisheries & Seafood, Seaforestation, Youth & Education, and Whales. Within the Youth & Education department, and reporting to the Social Justice Manager, the Indigenous Knowledge Specialist (IKS) is responsible for the creation and implementation of engaging, authentic, and culturally relevant components for Ocean Wise’s Youth and Education programs.

Ocean Wise strives to offer inclusive, accessible, and culturally relevant programs through mobile and online education programs, teacher resources, and experiential service-learning programming for youth across Canada. The IKS role guides department initiatives to respect and uphold cultural and traditional protocols while supporting staff to embed Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) across programming content. Alongside an organizational Indigenous engagement strategy, the IKS will promote reciprocal partnership development through equipping staff, within the Youth and Education department, to deepen their understanding and knowledge of local Indigenous cultures, histories, and ways of knowing.

While Ocean Wise’s office is in Vancouver, this role can be remote from anywhere in Canada.

**KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES**

**Development and Delivery of Youth and Education programs**:

- Regularly identify ways to promote, integrate, and amplify connections between environmental education, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and Indigenous ways of knowing into existing programs and resources in a respectful way.
- Develop, maintain, and oversee the implementation of culturally significant program materials.
- Regularly evaluate programs to ensure they are inclusive, accessible, and culturally relevant for participants.
- Co-design customized programs, primarily for school-aged children within the education teams, and for youth ages 15-30 within the youth teams.
- Deliver education programming including Ocean Wise AquaClasses, Sea Dome activations, community outreach events, etc.
- Develop and maintain relevant regional/national networks and key-connections to support participant recruitment, program promotion, and partnership building.
- Maintain good working knowledge of marine animals and ecosystems, contemporary trends in land/water-based education, and ocean conservation issues.
- Communicate effectively with team leads and program participants in-person and virtually.

**Direct Supports to Youth Participants**:

- Identify, develop, and continuously improve social and cultural support services for youth program participants.
- Implement activities for youth participants to promote awareness and understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories, and ways of knowing.
- Participate as support staff for in-person or virtual youth programs as needed.
- Deliver relevant components of youth programming including facilitated workshops, project consultations, and networking/learning opportunities.

**Training for Youth & Education Staff**:

- Equip program staff to develop and maintain partnerships with Indigenous leaders, communities, and organizations as needed.
- Support staff to recruit youth participants and ensure Indigenous participants are engaged in culturally relevant and respectful ways.
- Coordinate training for staff to promote awareness and understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories, and ways of knowing.
- Assist in the development of risk management plans, project development, staff training, and communications with consultation on cultural protocols, Traditional Knowledge, and best practices in cross-cultural competencies as needed.

**Administrative and General Tasks**:

- Contribute to report writing, program planning, metric tracking, grant proposals as needed, projects as assigned, and regular meetings with department staff.
- Maintain and support organizational safety standards.
- Continually improve Ocean Wise impact on the environment and greening of operations through support of EMS protocols.
- Actively demonstrate organizational values and code of conduct.
- Perform additional duties as required.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

**Education and Experience**
- ** Applications from Indigenous pers