Cultural Coordinator, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak•Thompson, MB

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

This full-time position, located in Thompson, Manitoba, is under the supervision of the MMIWG Liaison Unit Director. The Cultural Coordinator will support the MMIWG Liaison Unit in delivering and implementing land-based cultural programming and ceremonies as healing, prevention, and intervention modalities for MMIWG2S+ impacted families and survivors of gender-based violence. The role involves designing and delivering culturally responsive and dignified trauma-informed health and wellness supports for individuals impacted by Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (MMIWG2S+). This includes providing emotional and cultural wellness support to families, survivors, and communities impacted by gender and race-based violence. These services are available to any First Nation people on and off reserve belonging to one or more of the 26 MKO communities. The incumbent must understand the historical context of Indigenous peoples in Canada and its contribution to trauma, recognize trauma symptoms, integrate trauma knowledge into practice, and adhere to cultural and professional protocols.

Requirements

High School Diploma, or equivalent.
Experience working within a harm reduction and dignified trauma informed care organizational structure that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma, including intergenerational trauma and the impacts of colonization.
Understanding of various aspects of holistic wellness and considers all components relating to a person’s wellbeing including emotional, physical, mental, spiritual, and cultural needs.
Experience in program evaluation involving a variety of data collection and evaluation methods.
Comprehensive understanding of and commitment to the continual learning of First Nations traditional healing practices and models of wellness.
Excellent written communication skills for the purposes of developing background information, presentations, workshops and training materials, report writing, and other related materials.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office software and Internet research tools.
Ability to comply with all MKO policies and procedures.
Must possess a valid driver’s license and be willing to travel.
Must be able to obtain a satisfactory Criminal Record Check (including Vulnerable Sector Search), a satisfactory Child Abuse Registry Check and a satisfactory Adult Abuse Registry Check upon hiring.

Responsibilities

Provide cultural and land-based leadership using decolonizing, Indigenous-led approaches to support the MMIWG Liaison Unit in delivering respectful, culturally rooted services.
Provide and/or arrange the provision of short-term safe and culturally appropriate mental wellness supports for families and survivors, while respecting individual and family beliefs, traditions, customs, and spirituality.
Support the planning and delivery of healing, wellness, and other related programming for those supported by the unit.
Assist in the organization and delivery of gatherings, events and other MMIWG Liaison unit related initiatives.
Provide the MMIWG Liaison Unit with guidance in incorporating cultural knowledge, traditions, and protocols into the units work and service delivery.
Liaise with community partners and stakeholders.
Develop and deliver trauma-informed, culturally based workshops and materials.
Raise community awareness of the MMIWG Liaison Unit, MMIWG2S+ and violence prevention in facilitated discussions, workshops and community visits.
Perform administrative duties such as record keeping, letter writing, developing agendas and scheduling appointments.
Actively participate in various Indigenous cultural practices and protocols related to land-based healing and wellness activities, beyond those that are self-led.
Provide holistic wellness support rooted in a strength-based, dignified, trauma-informed, person-centred, and barrier-free approach.
Assist individuals and/or families in developing wellness and safety plans, including setting wellness goals to cope with challenging and overwhelming emotions.
Address emotional variability by defusing situations and debriefing with families, survivors, and those supported by the unit in a dignified, trauma-informed, and respectful manner.
Refer MMIWG2S+ families and survivors of gender-based violence to fellow Elders, Traditional Healers, and Knowledge Keepers as requested and provided ongoing follow up.
Attend community events and gatherings in support of MMIWG2S+ family members.
Document all contacts with designated individuals, other family members, or staff from allied agencies, noting information provided, assistance offered, referrals, etc.
Maintain appropriate documentation and keep detailed notes of participant interactions, while ensuring the secure handling and storage of confidential documents.
Create and maintain positive working relationships with agency professionals who are also working with families who have missing or murdered loved ones and survivors of gender-based violence.
Network with community resources to maintain positive inter-agency relationship while gaining understanding of their service mandates.
Partner with community agencies to providing healing opportunities and wellness supports for families and survivors.
Attend inter-agency meetings as required.
Attend community events/training as required.
Commit to continuous learning on the issue of MMIWG, violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and exploitation and human trafficking, including best practices in supporting impacted families and survivors.
Perform various office administration duties as required.
Ability to work overtime and in a variety of outdoor settings.
Travel to remote/isolated First Nations communities throughout Manitoba, usually at very short notice.
Maintain strict confidentiality as outlined under The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) and The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
Maintain compliancy with governmental Child Abuse Disclosure requirements at all times.
Engage in educational and training opportunities as needed.
Participate as an effective team member with all staff in scheduled supervision and staff meetings, remain up to date with current knowledge and skills in pertinent areas, and complete assigned projects and tasks on time.
Perform other duties as assigned that enable MKO to fulfill its mandate and responsibility to its member communities.