Elder / Knowledge Keeper

Our team at Native Clan, prides ourselves on our commitment to supporting, healing, and our dedication to serving our community in progressive and adaptive ways. Founded in 1972, Native Clan for the most part works with those relatives exiting western justice systems, their families, and community to support a positive healing journey that is right for our relatives impacted by those systems and trauma caused by colonization and stemming from intergenerational trauma.

Our Mission Statement: "The Native Clan Organization helps and supports our relatives navigate through, heal from, and return to their communities after contact with justice systems and to provide advocacy and progression of Indigenous ways of justice within those systems.''

Our Vision Statement: "Our Vision is to remove barriers for those relatives who have come into contact with justice systems, and ensure they return to their communities to live their lives in their most positive forms for them.''

Process and Support: The Native Clan Organization (NCO) acknowledges and supports the importance of having a team of pathfinders and helpers that reflect our relatives that we support. NCO practices equitable hiring practices and wants our work team to reflect those we serve as we aid our relatives on their journeys. In this spirit, preference will be given to those who self-declare Indigenous backgrounds in their resume or cover letter.

Also, in the spirit of removing barriers, and being as accessible for employment as possible, NCO uses qualifications and desired experience, or traits outlined in our job descriptions as a guide for those who would like to join our team. Applicants are more than welcome to apply for these posted roles if they do not specifically meet all of the listed requirements, as these are a guide for hiring and interviewing but are not all required. If you need assistance or guidance on resume writing, or interview skills please contact: and our team will be there to help you navigate resume writing and the interview process (skill building for this).

As part of making sure those joining our team understand what our team does, what are focuses of Native Clan in the present, and to get to know each other more we have a hiring process that is different from many organizations. Below are the steps and just a general idea of what these steps in our hiring include:

1. If you would like to join our team, please read, and think about this job/role posting and see if you are interested and think about if you would be a great fit.

2. Apply online and our team will review resumes. Please also include a video introduction if you would like, but this isn't required. We recognize resumes do not give a full picture of a person, and we try to ensure people applying for roles have every chance to show what they can bring to our team. If you need help with making a resume, please either call us, reach out on Facebook, or email and we will arrange how we can help with this.

3. Our team will look at resumes and video introductions (if you do not have a way to do a video introduction, reach out and we will set up an in person meeting just to say hi, but this won't be an interview and will be informal) and contact those people applying to attend an orientation touch base.

4. The "orientation" is a chance for our Pathfinding team to give a presentation and general information session to those who are invited to attend, and those who go to this stage of the hiring process. We will arrange multiple in-person and virtual sessions to accommodate people's schedules, but this will need to be completed prior to an interview. This step is to ensure that people wanting to join our team see our work culture, values, leadership and support style, and the range of services our team offers as this isn't fully communicated during a dedicated interview.

5. The interview stage will be for those who are invited from the pool of people who have attended "orientations" or our information sessions. These interviews will take place in person for the most part unless requested depending on the situation, and when we call or contract those who are invited to interview we will work to get rid of any hurdles like timing, transportation, or scheduling. Interviews will be "paid" in the sense that anyone who takes time to be interviewed will be offered an honorarium for their time

6. After the interview stage our Pathfinding team will work to choose who would be the best fit at the time for our team, and contact those who will be offered the role on the team. Those who aren't offered a role at that time will be asked if they would like our team to keep them in mind for future roles, and we can of course offer feedback

Reporting directly to the Manitou House Pathfinder (MHP) , The ELDER / KNOWLEDGE KEEPER is responsible : for assisting all relatives, team members and community, towards opportunities to further develop their understanding with traditional Indigenous spirituality and ways of healing.

Position Summary:

This full-time Elder/Knowledge Keeper role involves the sharing of traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and wisdom. This role will support the wellness, support and the development of Native Clan - Manitou House relatives through activities, ceremonies, and cultural teachings. Hours will be flexible according to the needs of both house relatives and the Elder/Knowledge Keeper. The Elder/Knowledge Keeper will have an Oskâpêwis/Elder Helper to assist the Elder/Knowledge Keeper with any reports and materials needed for cultural activities and traditional ceremonies. The Elder/Knowledge Keeper will also at times, be asked to participate in team meetings to further enhance a team support network.

What a day could look like in this role :

Cultural Support

There are five main areas of Indigenous cultural involvement for relatives residing at Manitou House. The Elder/Knowledge Keeper will have support of the Oskâpêwis/Elder Helper and other staff to provide the following cultural support:

Ceremonies

· Smudging, sweat lodge, pipe ceremonies, sharing circles, drum singing. Ensure that culturally based service is supported in the sharing of traditional protocol to Manitou House relatives and team.

Cultural Outings

· Medicine picking, sun dance outings, fasting lodges, pow wows or other outings which will benefit Manitou House relatives.

Assisting Oskâpêwis/Elder Helper

· Encouraging house residents to help the Oskâpêwis/Elder Helper with fire keeping for sweat lodge ceremonies, chopping and stacking wood, cleaning medicines, gathering grandfather/grandmother rocks, etc.

One to One Supports

· Be available to talk with Manitou House relatives and guide them with day-to-day life decisions. Some of the house relatives may want to talk about other life issues such as: Intergenerational trauma impacts, transitional support from incarceration, strengthening positive cultural identity, and healing.

Access to other Cultural Supports

· Some house relatives will have other Elders/Knowledge Keepers who can help them navigate their healing path. The Manitou House Elder/Knowledge Keeper will encourage relatives to access other healthy culturally based supports outside of Manitou House. The Manitou House Elder/Knowledge Keeper will verify these cultural supports.

*Please note that the use of the word "relative" in this description takes the place of the words client, resident, or participant as NCO promotes a sense of relation and belonging in our way of operating.

*Please note that the use of word "Elder/Knowledge Keeper" can be interchanged with a word that symbolizes how you wish to be recognized and that feels good for you .

Salary: Salary for this position is starting at $62,400 annually .This will be a salaried role, at 40 hours-weekly ,where schedules are flexible and progressive work arrangements can be made with the Manitou House Pathfinder depending on the workload and needs of Manitou House and your team.

Benefits and RSP Plans: This position is available offering full time status , thus providing access to incredible medical benefits that include drug prescription coverage, dental, vision, medical insurance coverage options, complex and generous health professionals coverage , travel insurance and much more. NCO also has a loving RSP plan in which the employee contributes 3% of their wages to, and the organization will contribute 6% of an employee's salary as part of our matching contribution plan.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $30.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Discounted or free food
• Flexible schedule
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Winnipeg, MB R2W 4V5: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person