Elder - Knowledge Keeper

Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services; Whitby; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading organization as an Elder/Knowledge Keeper, guiding children, youth, and families on their cultural journeys. Your role involves providing cultural support, developing plans, and training staff to ensure culturally appropriate services. With a compassionate approach, you'll work closely with communities to improve well-being and uphold Indigenous values.

Benefits

3 weeks vacation

Extended health, dental and vision coverage

Life insurance plan

Short and long term disability coverage

OMERS pension plan

Confidential Employee and Family Assistance Program

Qualifications

• Experience working alongside families in crisis.
• Knowledgeable about the child welfare system.

Responsibilities

• Provide cultural guidance and teachings to families.
• Assist in developing cultural plans for children and youth.
• Document work with families transparently.

Skills

Communication

Cultural Knowledge

Compassion

Education

Bachelor of Social Work

Indigenous Studies degree

Job description

An Elder/Knowledge Keeper at Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services works in collaboration with the Cultural Resource team. You are responsible for guiding our children, youth, families, member First Nations, Agency staff, and external partners on their cultural journeys.

What you will do:

• You will visit with families, meet with children and youth, listen to their concerns, and provide them cultural guidance, teachings, ceremony and knowledge.
• Act as a resource to provide cultural guidance to ensure the Agency consistently provides relevant and culturally appropriate services.
• Assist in the development of cultural plans, that reflect supporting the connection to one’s cultural identity for children, youth, families, communities, and staff.
• Provide training/learning opportunities for Agency staff and cultural partners about cultural practices, teachings, ceremonies, and traditions that workers can implement in their day-to-day practices.
• Provide cultural support and guidance on all agency meetings and gatherings to guide discussions and decisions.
• You will document the good work you do with families in a transparent and concise manner.

Who you are:

• You are a compassionate First Nation, Métis or Inuit who is recognized and respected by your community. You lead by example, living a quality life that embodies our values, the Seven Grandfather teachings. You have a comprehensive understanding of our traditional Indigenous ways of knowing and being, including ceremonies, protocols, healing, medicines, the land, water, animals, seasons and all life.
• You may have a Bachelor of Social Work, or an Indigenous Studies degree, are working towards one, or you feel you possess the necessary cultural knowledge, skills and lived experience required for this role.
• You have experience working alongside families in crisis. You are an excellent communicator who values openness, honesty and transparency. You are knowledgeable about the child welfare system, and you wish to improve the overall well-being of our children, youth, families, communities and Nations.

Who we are:

We are a welcoming team of diverse peoples who each play an integral role in our service model and delivery. We consider ourselves helpers. Regardless of the role we carry, from front-line to administrative support, we honour our agency’s name: Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag which means to look after and to always keep children at the centre of our thoughts.

Together we will be:

A team of Indigenous and Indigenous Ally professionals who lead with our hearts and minds. Together, we will transform child welfare to improve outcomes for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth, families, communities and Nations.

All the benefits for you and your family:

• 3 weeks vacation accrued throughout the year and additional paid days including wellness time.
• Extended health, dental and vision coverage; life insurance plan; and short and long term disability coverage.
• Collaborative work environment offering strong connections to internal and external partners.
• Competitive salaries with annual merit increases; Quarterly Wholistic Reviews to encourage personal and professional development.
• OMERS pension plan; Confidential Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• Training and opportunities to deepen cultural knowledge and understanding including our unique curriculum, Indigenous Wholistic Practice.

Apply Today!

If you have any questions about the Elder/Knowledge Keeper position, please contact our HR Supervisor at [e-mail] or [phone]. You may also email a copy of the completed application form, your resume and any other relevant materials to [e-mail] by 4:30pm on Friday, May 23rd, 2025.

Here is the direct link to our fillable application in PDF - Job Application Form.