Land Based Coordinator

Ontario Native Women's Association; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is seeking a Land Based Coordinator to lead land-based activities and traditional healing within the Mental Health Program. The role provides cultural teachings, guidance to staff and community members, and traditional counselling services to support healing, language restoration, and cultural connection for Indigenous women and families.

The position emphasizes Two-Eyed Seeing approaches and trauma-informed care, with the aim of empowering communities

Qualifications

• Post-secondary diploma or bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Indigenous Studies, Health, Sociology, Women’s Studies, or a related field, or a combination of relevant education and experience.
• Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience leading and coordinating traditional interventions, practices, and ceremonies using a Two-Eyed Seeing approach.
• Strong knowledge of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and ceremonies such as sweat lodge, qulliq lighting, drumming and other traditional practices.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate land-based activities and traditional healing through ceremony.
• Offer Indigenous teachings and guidance to staff and community members.
• Provide traditional knowledge, cultural supports, teachings, and counselling services that promote healing and cultural connection.
• Support language restoration and trauma-informed care in programming.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Travel ability

Indigenous language knowledge

Education

Post-secondary diploma or bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field

Job description

Why make ONWA your career choice?

Make a difference in the lives of Indigenous peoples by supporting and advocating for positive change.ONWA prides itself on providing all employees with a total rewards package that is generous and supports our workforce and their family members:

• Competitive salaries
• Generous paid vacation time
• Paid time off at Christmas above paid vacation time
• Additional paid stat and civic holidays
• 35 hour work week
• Comprehensive benefits program including health, paramedical, dental, vision and EAP. All premiums covered by the employer
• Healthcare Spending Account and Lifestyle Spending Account
• Participate in CAAT defined benefit pension plan and retire with secure lifetime retirement income
• Paid sick days
• Paid cultural/personal wellness days
• Flexible scheduling to support work-life balance
• Ongoing professional development

VISION

At the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA), we celebrate and honour the safety and healing of Indigenous Women and Girls as they take up their leadership roles in the family, community, provincially, nationally and internationally for generations to come.

SCOPE

The Land Based Coordinator position is a key component in the delivery of the ONWA Mental Health Program and ensures a range of wholistic services. This position coordinates land-based activities and traditional healing through ceremony and by offering indigenous teachings and guidance to staff and community or community members. The Land Based Coordinator provides traditional knowledge, cultural supports, teachings, and traditional counselling services that promote healing, wellness, language restoration, and cultural connection for Indigenous women and their families through a culturally grounded and trauma-informed approach.

QUALIFICATIONS

SKILLS:

• Post-secondary diploma or bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Indigenous Studies, Health, Sociology, Women’s Studies, or a related field, or a combination of relevant education and experience.
  
• Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years’ experience leading and coordinating traditional interventions, practices, and ceremonies using a Two-Eyed Seeing approach.
  
• Strong knowledge of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and ceremonies such as sweat lodge, qulliq lighting, drumming and other traditional practices such as sewing, harvesting, drumming, and throat singing.
  
• Strong understanding of traditional counselling practices and the ability to facilitate and/or coordinate on the land activities.
  
• Ability to facilitate cultural programming, healing circles, teachings, workshops, and educational sessions.
  
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
  
• Ability to travel when required.
  
• Ability to speak an Indigenous language is considered an asset.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Strong knowledge and awareness of Indigenous culture, traditions, ceremony, and culture practices that support healing and wellness.
  
• Thorough knowledge and experience working within a gender-based lens and perspective.
  
• Awareness of the recent, historical, and intergenerational trauma experienced by Indigenous women and their families.
  
• Understanding of cultural trauma-informed care and wise practices in providing trauma-informed services.
  
• Knowledge of traditional medicines, traditional foods, harvesting practices, and cultural teachings.

Please know, this is an existing role we are looking to fill.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.