Indigenous jobs in Canada

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

Social Work Services

1.0 FTE Permanent System Assignment Social Worker

Indigenous Education Department

Reporting to the Manager of Social Work Services /Mental Health Lead and Manager of Social Work Services , the System Social Worker for Indigenous Education Department will:

Honouring Indigenous knowledge systems, Social Work involvement will be rooted in the concepts of relevance, respect, responsibility and reciprocity.

Work within the parameters of the Framework for School Social Work in Ontario, the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers as well as the practices and policies of Social Work Services and the HWDSB , including the INDIGENOUS EDUCATION POLICY

Work in collaboration with Organizational Leadership, in particular the Indigenous Education Lead and the Indigenous Education Kahwat:sire , Zaagi’iwidin , Family in the implementation of the Indigenous Education Circle Strategic Action Plan.

In partnership with the Indigenous Education Lead, and the Indigenous Education Department , will further advance the development of an Indigenous Cultural safety framework in learning spaces that connect and prioritizes Indigenous Knowledges , pedagogies , languages , cultures , land and distinct nationhood identity with and among the staff and the learners . This learning model will serve to inform an aspect of the ongoing implementation of the Indigenous Education Circle Strategic Action Plan at HWDSB .

In partnership with the Indigenous Education Lead , and the Indigenous Education Department, this position will support and deepen the implementation of the Pillars of the Palisade: Restorative Indigenous Educational Wellness Framework (Two Row Framework) by recognizing and intervening to shift the patterns , occurrences and intergenerational legacies of education experiences within the Indigenous community that persist to oppress , problematize and marginalize Indigenous learners and their families/caregivers to one where Indigenous learners are valued, respected and whose traditional knowledge is prioritized in the learning experiences of the HWDSB community.

As a Pillar of the Palisade working alongside the Indigenous Education Department and cross‑departmentally , this position will co‑develop and maintain Wellness Plans and bundles , prioritizing student voice, student centredness, and strengths/asset‑based approaches to working with students, respecting individual needs and goals they wish to work towards .

Demonstrate excellence in: support, guidance, understanding, humility and compassion by recognizing systemic barriers specific to Indigenous, racialized and or marginalized groups, with a proven ability to navigate educational, child welfare , and other agencies and systems to advocate on behalf of the circumstances of each unique student .

Collaborate with the various community stakeholders and partners within the larger Hamilton community, both Indigenous specific as well as mainstream service providers, to support and to help facilitate culturally safe services that are available and accessible to Indigenous learners and their families .

• MSW qualification and eligible for registration in the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Service Workers.
• Authentic/ Lived experience and established positive relationships within the Indigenous community of Hamilton including but not limited to Indigenous specific agencies and Indigenous specific social service programs and initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in working in cooperation with or within the public school system to promote culturally relevant and individualized support for Indigenous students and their caregivers or families.
• Demonstrated experience in developing successful collaborations both within the Board as well as with the wider community, specifically the urban Indigenous community within the Hamilton Wentworth area , and the territory that is under the Dish with One Spoon agreement.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in safely engaging professionally with Indigenous individuals, Indigenous families and with Indigenous communities.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the provision of Indigenous wellness and mental health services to Indigenous children and youth in purposeful and planned interventions that include Indigenous knowledge, specifically ways of knowing, being and doing as well as evidence‑informed practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with transference of knowledge and building the capacity of other professional services, including but not limited to systemic oppression and anti‑Indigenous racism.

The successful candidate will understand the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report and will be able to:

• Work in a respectful, non‑judgemental manner with students, caregivers and/or families.
• Advocate for the best interest of the student, caregiver and/or family.
• Be familiar with the principles as found within the Anishnaabe Seven Grandfather Teachings and/or the Haudenosaunee principles of Peace, Power and Good Mind or other Indigenous based teachings.
• Maintain standards of excellence when working in collaboration with both internal and external partners. Provide guidance, support, and encouragement while working toward independence for the student, in order to avoid creating a dependency on the service(s) available.

• As per the Ontario Human Rights Code (section 24), this role is focused on serving the needs of Indigenous students and preference in hiring will be given to Indigenous individuals.
• Applications are to include a one‑page statement of the candidate’s beliefs about Indigenous Social Work approaches and practices and how it benefits the holistic health, well‑being, safety and success of Indigenous learners.
• Applicants are to include a copy of an up‑to‑date College of Social Work Certificate of Qualification.
• In the spirit of the Human Rights Code, we ask that resumes not include personal data such as age, marital and family status, and health.
• A short list may be developed.

Hamilton‑Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to building inclusive learning and working environments where students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, staff population, physical surroundings and the broader community.

HWDSB’s mission is to empower students to learn and grow to their full potential in a diverse world. Guided by this mission, HWDSB strives to build a workforce that embodies the values of human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion, while reflecting and welcoming the diverse and distinct identities, experiences and needs of our students and our communities.

HWDSB seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, and who will contribute to the vision of creating inclusive and equitable outcomes. HWDSB especially invites and welcomes applications from:

• Indigenous Peoples (e.g. First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples);
• Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin; (e.g. Black and racialized communities, immigrant communities, etc.)
• Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities;
• Persons who identify as women;
• Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. (i.e. Two‑spirit and LGBTQIA+)

As part of HWDSB’s commitment to employment equity and removing barriers to groups that have faced and continue to face barriers in employment, we invite all applicants to complete a voluntary question(s) that collects identity‑based information. The voluntary question(s) is on the Apply to Education application page for this position.

HWDSB is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process, based on any human rights protected grounds. If you require accommodation, please notify us in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

HWDSB is located on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty. The Dish with One Spoon wampum belt represents the treaty relationship between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and Anishinaabe with respect to sharing the land and resources thereon. The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully and sustainably in perpetuity. We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River.

The information collected on this form is used to monitor HWDSB’s progress toward our equity goals including our commitment to diversity in HWDSB recruitment and hiring practices. We are committed to the security and confidentiality of information under our control, and to the protection of privacy with respect to personal and confidential information that is collected, used, disclosed and retained in the system. Information on this form is collected pursuant to Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan (Ministry of Education) and in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). Access to this form is restricted to specific individuals in Human Resources. The Research and Analytics Department will use aggregate data from all the forms (not individual data) for internal reporting. Their access and use of the data is governed by MFIPPA and ethical research practices. Applicant Self‑Identification Forms will be maintained in the Human Resources job competition file and securely destroyed 6 years after the job posting in accordance with general records retention principles. If you prefer not to answer any of the questions, you can select “prefer not to answer”. This in no way affects your application or the applicant selection process. If you have questions or concerns about this form please contact humanresources@hwdsb.on.ca.