Indigenous Youth Cultural Resource Worker
Hours: 35 hrs/wk.Range: $22.92- $37.42Location: 655 Bloor St W., 156 Galloway Rd. Toronto (various NCFST locations) Position: UnionizedClassification: FT Contract (2-year with Health and Dental Benefits)Native Child and Family Services of Toronto stands as a child-centered, family-focused, community-driven organization created by and for the Indigenous community. The mandate of the agency requires a deep cultural foundation of the NCFST Service model - which itself was developed by leaders, Knowledge Carriers, and Elders. Implementing the agency service model and working to enhance holistic services requires strong cultural support daily.The Indigenous Youth Cultural Resource Worker will provide virtual and land-based cultural guidance and support to Indigenous children, youth, families, and the agency staff. They will work closely with the Managers of Culture, Youth, and Early Years and Programs, as part of a growing team. The Indigenous Youth Cultural Resource Worker will be primarily responsible for providing cultural programming at our Native Youth Resource Centre, Scarborough Child and Family Services location and overseeing the downtown summer day camp program. The Indigenous Youth Cultural Resource Worker will collaborate with other areas of the Agency to determine how they can best support the sharing of traditional values, knowledge, ceremonies, traditions and practices when building and guiding staff in their work with children, youth, families, community and partners. The successful candidate will be a recognized and respected member of the Indigenous community and is someone who has lived experience and a learned understanding of Indigenous worldviews and traditional teachings and ceremonies.
Why You'll Love It At Native Child

• Competitive Benefits Package, tailored to meet your needs, including health and dental coverage, life, short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Access to Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• A Retirement and Savings Plan that provides you with the opportunity to build and add value to your savings.
• Learning and Development opportunities to fuel your professional growth.
• Maternity leave top-up
• Generous Paid Vacation and Days-off
• A Culturally rounded environment celebrating our roots

Primary Responsibilities:

• Organize, implement, and facilitate cultural workshops, ceremonies, healing circles and gatherings for community members
• Provide support to staff to ensure youth programming reflects cultural understandings and focuses on cultural well-being
• Support youth in navigating their life situations to prepare them to transition to adulthood
• Lead the downtown summer day camp program to during the months of July – August alongside camp counselors to ensure a safe, fun, and educational summer day camp experience
• Organize, implement, and facilitate day camp programming activities
• Coordinate access to Elders, Knowledge Carriers and others to meet the needs of Native Child and Family Services of Toronto's community, children, youth, and families
• Ensure that youth and families receive appropriate cultural programming as requested
• Act as a resource and provide information to ensure that cultural knowledge, practices, and protocols are shared, understood and maintained
• Participate in the ongoing development and implementation of policies, procedures and best practices that are supportive and inclusive of the rich Indigenous cultures found on Turtle Island
• Providing conflict resolution and crisis management as required
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as required

Qualifications, Knowledge & Skills: Cultural Knowledge Requirements:

• Lived experiences as an Indigenous person with the ability to transfer traditional knowledge and teachings, respecting the unique Cultural distinctions and variations found throughout Turtle Island
• Extensive knowledge of the history and culture of Indigenous Peoples including First Nation,Métis and Inuit
• Ability to work collaboratively in the preparation of Agency Ceremonies and/or events ensuring that appropriate Cultural protocols are honoured and respected
• Experience supporting Indigenous children and youth
• Engage, as a healthy member of the community, with a strong, demonstrated ability to work respectfully with our Elders/Knowledge Carriers, children, youth, families, Community members, students, caregivers, allies, and partners
• Respect for, and sensitivity towards, as well as knowledge and understanding of Indigenous Culture and People
• Demonstrated skills in providing trauma-informed crisis interventions using culturally-grounded modalities (Talking Circles, Ceremony, etc.)
• Clear understanding of intricacies and uniqueness of service delivery to Indigenous People within a holistic Child Wellbeing Agency
• Knowledge of NCFST programs and services
• Experience in a social services organization, developing and delivering cultural programs and services
• Working knowledge of the Child, Youth & Family Services Act is preferred

Special skills:

• Excellent facilitation skills, especially in a Cultural setting (i.e. talking circles, teachings, knowledge transfer, etc.)
• Excellent interpersonal skills that focus on relationship building
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent conflict resolution skills
• Ability and willingness to support both traditional and contemporary healing practices
• Ability to display a positive and helpful attitude
• Ability to use good judgment in assessing difficult situations
• Ability to guide and support individuals in their desires and efforts to incorporate Indigenous values and traditions into their lives and practices
• Ability to work with confidential and sensitive information
• Knowledge of Indigenous medicines, planting, and harvesting practices would be an asset
• Knowledge of Indigenous hunting, gathering and land bases practices would be an asset
• Knowledge of ceremonial teachings and the ability to conduct Sweat Lodge Ceremonies would be an asset
• Fluency in any Indigenous language(s) would be an asset

Qualifications:

• Experience working with Indigenous people, organizations and communities required
• Post-secondary education in Indigenous Studies or similar would be considered an asset
• Experience in a social services organization developing and delivering cultural programs and services would be considered an asset

About Native Child and Family Services of Toronto:

Native Child and Family Services of Toronto strives to provide a life of quality, well-being, caring and healing for our children and families in the Toronto Indigenous Community. We do this by creating a service model that is culture-based and respects the values of Native people, the extended family, and the right to self-determination and through the integration of holistic, culturally based prevention services that are child centred, family focused, and community driven.