Elder Helper / Oskâpêwis

Our team at Native Clan prides ourselves on our commitment to supporting, healing, and our dedication to serving our community in progressive and adaptive ways. Founded in 1972, Native Clan for the most part works with those relatives exiting western justice systems, their families, and community to support a positive healing journey that is right for our relatives impacted by those systems and trauma caused by colonization and stemming from intergenerational trauma.

Our Mission Statement: “The Native Clan Organization helps and supports our relatives navigate through, heal from, and return to their communities after contact with justice systems and to provide advocacy and progression of Indigenous ways of justice within those systems.’’

Our Vision Statement: “Our Vision is to remove barriers for those relatives who have come into contact with justice systems, and ensure they return to their communities to live their lives in their most positive forms for them.’’

Process and Support: The Native Clan Organization (NCO) acknowledges and supports the importance of having a team of pathfinders and helpers that reflect our relatives that we support. NCO practices equitable hiring practices and wants our work team to reflect those we serve as we aid our relatives on their journeys. In this spirit, preference will be given to those who self-declare Indigenous backgrounds in their resume or cover letter.

Also, in the spirit of removing barriers, and being as accessible for employment as possible, NCO uses qualifications and desired experience, or traits outlined in our job descriptions as a guide for those who would like to join our team. Applicants are more than welcome to apply for these posted roles if they do not specifically meet all of the listed requirements, as these are a guide for hiring and interviewing but are not all required. If you need assistance or guidance on resume writing, or interview skills please contact: kendell.joiner@nativeclan.org and our team will be there to help you navigate resume writing and the interview process (skill building for this).

As part of making sure those joining our team understand what our team does, what are focuses of Native Clan in the present, and to get to know each other more we have a hiring process that is different from many organizations. Below are the steps and just a general idea of what these steps in our hiring include:

1. If you would like to join our team, please read, and think about this job/role posting and see if you are interested and think about if you would be a great fit.

2. Apply online and our team will review resumes. Please also include a video introduction if you would like, but this isn’t required. We recognize resumes do not give a full picture of a person, and we try to ensure people applying for roles have every chance to show what they can bring to our team. If you need help with making a resume, please either call us, reach out on Facebook, or email kendell.joiner@nativeclan.org and we will arrange how we can help with this.

3. Our team will look at resumes and video introductions (if you do not have a way to do a video introduction, reach out and we will set up an in person meeting just to say hi, but this won’t be an interview and will be informal) and contact those people applying to attend an orientation touch base.

4. The “orientation” is a chance for our Pathfinding team to give a presentation and general information session to those who are invited to attend, and those who go to this stage of the hiring process. We will arrange multiple in-person and virtual sessions to accommodate people’s schedules, but this will need to be completed prior to an interview. This step is to ensure that people wanting to join our team see our work culture, values, leadership and support style, and the range of services our team offers as this isn’t fully communicated during a dedicated interview.

5. The interview stage will be for those who are invited from the pool of people who have attended “orientations” or our information sessions. These interviews will take place in person for the most part unless requested depending on the situation, and when we call or contract those who are invited to interview we will work to get rid of any hurdles like timing, transportation, or scheduling. Interviews will be “paid” in the sense that anyone who takes time to be interviewed will be offered an honorarium for their time!

6. After the interview stage our Pathfinding team will work to choose who would be the best fit at the time for our team, and contact those who will be offered the role on the team. Those who aren’t offered a role at that time will be asked if they would like our team to keep them in mind for future roles, and we can of course offer feedback!

Position Summary: Oskâpêwis/Elder Helper Position

We are excited to be adding to our team at our Healing Facility “ Manitou House” (located at 94 McGregor St.)

What is a Oskâpêwis / Elder’s Helper ? What does this work include? What is the benefit of working in this role at Native Clan?

What this role does in its day-to-day:

- This mentoring position for Oskâpêwis/Elder Helper may need to be provided daytime, evening and weekend hours depending on the needs of support services to the relatives of Manitou House.

-The Oskâpêwis/Elder Helper shall assist Manitou House relatives to benefit from traditional healing and contemporary treatment interventions by supporting the work of the Knowledge Keepers/Elders and the inter disciplinary team.

-Ensuring adequate supply is on site of traditional ceremonial materials as well as ensuring preparation and maintenance of ceremonial grounds is upheld with the highest standards of honor ,while supporting these teachings to our relatives and community members.

-Coordinate and provide support for relatives of Manitou House during traditional ceremonies, perform traditional ceremonies in absence of the Knowledge Keeper/Elder (pipe ceremony, sharing circles, sweat lodges )

-Provides counselling services to relatives and supports these sessions with both verbal and written reporting to necessary case management team members.

-Takes part in progressive, challenging, and customized training and professional development that is guided by the Manitou House Elder and Pathfinder but for the most part, is directed by areas where you would like to progress and gain knowledge in to help our relatives and community.

Someone who is a great fit for the role would be someone who:

-Believes in our missions, visions, and has our drive to change justice and social systems for the betterment of our community and relatives impacted by these systems

-Deep understanding of traditional ceremonies and what preparation and teachings are needed to fulfill these sacred duties .

-Experienced or desire to develop gifts and teachings with leading Indigenous Traditional Ceremonies

-A license and access to a vehicle would be an asset for this role

-Works well as a member of a flexible and adaptive team that works in a community driven organization.

Wage: Wage for this position is starting at $28,704 to $33,696 annually depending on the experience and knowledge level of the person offered the role. This wage is averaged out at 24 hours weekly / 3 days a week , however this could increase to full time based on needs of Manitou House and capabilities of applicant.

Benefits and RSP Plans: This position is not being offered at full time hours however will be subject to review if deemed necessary to be amended to full time at time of interview and candidate selection.

Job Type: Part-time

Salary: $23.00-$27.00 per hour

Expected hours: 24 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• Company events
• Discounted or free food
• On-site gym
• On-site parking
• Wellness program

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• On call
• Weekends as needed

Supplemental pay types:

• Overtime pay

Work Location: In person