Cultural Mentor

Tribal Health•Rapid City, SD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Cultural Mentor provides onsite mentoring and support to the Company’s clients and develops and delivers cultural immersion and training within the Company. Approximately 75% of the role is dedicated to onsite client services, including programs offered by Oaye Luta Okolakiciye (OLO), and approximately 25% is dedicated to cultural education for Company employees, leadership, and healthcare professionals. The work supports youth, adults, and families—referred to as “relatives”—in healing, recovery, and cultural connection, grounded in Lakota language, values, kinship, and cultural practices. The role also strengthens Company employees’ understanding of Native American communities and respectful cultural practices. The Cultural Mentor plans and facilitates immersion experiences, orientation, and ongoing training; develops materials with leadership and knowledgeable community representatives; serves as an internal cultural resource; and coordinates training needs and schedules. Cultural knowledge must be shared in a way that respects community guidance and safeguards sacred, private, or restricted teachings and practices. The position requires collaboration with relatives, client staff, Company personnel, contractors, partners, and stakeholders; timely documentation; confidentiality; professional boundaries; and compliance with applicable Company and client procedures. The role may require flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays when needed for ceremonies, relatives’ needs, client activities, or training, with scheduling coordinated through the Company. Native American preference applies in filling vacancies in accordance with federal law; qualified applicants are asked to submit Form BIA-4432 with the application.

Requirements

Demonstrated knowledge of Lakota culture, kinship relationships, ceremonies, healing traditions, and cultural protocols applicable to OLO client services.
Understanding of the diversity of Native American cultures and ability to develop broader Company training with appropriate community guidance.
Lakota language skills sufficient to communicate and advocate for relatives’ needs in assigned responsibilities.
Ability to build trusting relationships, support relatives seeking help, and maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries.
Strong communication and facilitation skills, including ability to explain cultural concepts and guide learning for people with varying levels of cultural knowledge.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, maintain confidentiality, and complete accurate documentation in a timely manner.
Ability to satisfy job-related background screening and certification requirements, as applicable to assigned duties and permitted by law, and participate in required ongoing training.
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays when needed for ceremonies, relatives’ needs, client activities, or Company training, with scheduling coordinated through the Company.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing cultural mentoring, peer support, community health services, or related support in Tribal communities.
Experience developing or facilitating cultural immersion, employee orientation, or cultural training in a healthcare or community service setting.
Community Health Worker, Peer Mentor, or other relevant certification.

Responsibilities

Provide onsite mentoring through Company client engagements, including OLO programs.
Build and maintain relationships with relatives grounded in Otakuye (relative/kinship), using age- and gender-appropriate kinship terms and respectful personal and professional boundaries.
Offer guidance, encouragement, and culturally grounded support with humility and respect for each person’s healing journey.
Advocate for relatives’ needs using the Lakota language, support communication among relatives and those involved in their care or services, help relatives express concerns, and connect them with appropriate resources.
Support OLO cultural mentoring services by prioritizing Lakota cultural protocols, ceremonies, and healing activities, and participate in healing ceremonies as appropriate to the role, relatives’ wishes, and applicable protocols.
Coordinate assigned client services with client staff, contractors, partners, and stakeholders; keep appropriate Company contacts informed; facilitate respectful discussions; and communicate relatives’ needs, service concerns, and relevant updates.
Advocate for relatives’ safety and dignity, recognize possible risks of harm, and promptly communicate concerns through applicable Company and client procedures.
Maintain appropriate boundaries and seek additional support when needs exceed the role’s responsibilities or expertise.
Plan and facilitate cultural immersion experiences, orientation sessions, and ongoing Native American cultural training for Company employees, leadership, and healthcare professionals.
Develop training materials and practical guidance with Company leadership and knowledgeable representatives of relevant Native American communities, tailoring content to communities served and safeguarding sacred, private, or restricted teachings and practices.
Serve as an internal resource for cultural questions and help Company teams apply their learning to their work and client relationships.
Coordinate training needs and schedules with Company leadership, gather participant feedback, and refine training to address identified needs.
Complete timely, accurate documentation of client mentoring activities and services and Company cultural training in accordance with Company requirements and applicable client standards.
Protect confidential information concerning relatives, clients, and the Company.
Follow Company policies, client procedures, workplace safety and conduct policies, and applicable law; maintain professional conduct; and perform other related duties reasonably assigned by Company leadership.
Participate in ongoing professional and personal development and obtain and maintain certifications required for assigned services, which may include Community Health Worker or Peer Mentor certification.
Use self-reflection, healthy professional boundaries, and available support to sustain effective mentoring and training; recognize how personal experiences may affect relationships with relatives and seek guidance when needed.
Perform duties safely and professionally.