Position Summary: The Indigenous Peer Support Worker provides culturally safe, trauma-informed, and client-centered peer support to individuals accessing withdrawal management and addiction medicine services. This is a peer-based, non-clinical role grounded in lived experience with substance use and recovery.

The Indigenous Peer Support

Worker supports all clients within the program, while bringing specialized knowledge and focus to Indigenous clients and prioritizing their engagement when present. Drawing from lived experience, cultural knowledge, and peer support principles, the role assists clients in navigating withdrawal, stabilization, recovery, and connection to community resources. This role plays a key part in promoting culturally safe care by integrating Indigenous values, traditions, and healing practices, while also acting as a cultural resource within the interdisciplinary team.

The Indigenous Peer Support

Worker will advocate on behalf of clients and help clients to address problems and answer questions, gather and provide information and advise, and connect clients to resources and to the community. Service provision will focus on working with clients to enhance their recovery. The incumbent must demonstrate the values of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and contributes positively to the mission and vision of the program and organization.

The Peer Support

Worker complies with the Occupational Health and Safety Standards for the organization and is proactive in promoting a safe work environment.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Peer Support

Provide one-on-one peer-based emotional support to clients accessing withdrawal management services

Build supportive, trusting relationships grounded in empathy, respect, and shared lived experience

Support clients through withdrawal, stabilization, and early recovery using harm reduction and trauma-informed approaches

Share lived experience in a way that promotes hope, dignity, and engagement

Provide crisis support, de-escalation, and emotional stabilization as needed

Provide peer support to all clients, while prioritizing Indigenous clients when present

Resource Navigation & Advocacy

Assist clients in accessing housing, healthcare, treatment programs, social services, and community support

Support recovery planning, discharge planning, and community reintegration

Connect Indigenous clients to culturally relevant services, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and traditional healing resources

Advocate for client needs and culturally safe care within the interdisciplinary team

Group Facilitation & Education

Plan and facilitate regular psychoeducational, wellness, and peer-based groups aligned with program needs and targets

Facilitate sharing circles and culturally informed group programming where appropriate

Raise awareness of mental health, substance use, harm reduction, and recovery

Promote participation, self-reflection, connection, and skill development among clients

Adapt group content to meet diverse needs, strengths, and stages of recovery

Maintain group attendance and documentation

Cultural Support & Community Connection

Provide culturally grounded support to Indigenous clients





Foster trust and credibility by supporting initiatives in ways that honour Indigenous values, protocols, and community priorities.

Support access to Indigenous cultural practices, teachings, and healing approaches

Assist clients in reconnecting with culture, identity, and community

Demonstrated experience establishing, nurturing, and maintaining respectful, trust-based relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, leadership, and partners.

Collaborate with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous organizations

Act as a cultural resource within the program to enhance culturally safe care

Collaboration & System Navigation

Participate in case conferences, interdisciplinary team meetings, and care planning

Liaise with internal teams and external service providers

Build and sustain authentic, respectful, and mutually beneficial relationships with community organizations, Indigenous communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, leaders, organizations, and partners. Support staff in understanding culturally safe approaches when working with Indigenous clients

Documentation & Reporting

Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all client interactions

Track and record service activity, including:

Individual peer support visits

Group sessions and attendance

Service provider interactions

Contribute to program reporting requirements and performance targets aligned with Ontario Health funding

Education and/or Certification

Education

High School Diploma: Required

Post Secondary: Psychology or Social Services: Preferred

Qualifications

Required

Self-identification as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. Preference may be given to applicants who are registered under the Indian Act, where appropriate.

Lived experience with substance use and recovery

Demonstrated ability to provide empathetic, non-judgmental peer support

Demonstrated experience establishing, nurturing, and maintaining respectful, trust-based relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, leadership, and partners. Ability to build and maintain respectful relationships internally and with Indigenous community

Evidence of meaningful community involvement and established connections within Indigenous communities and networks.

Understanding of harm reduction and trauma-informed care principles

Ability to support a diverse client population while applying an Indigenous cultural lens

Ability to build credibility and foster cooperative partnerships across diverse stakeholders while respecting Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team

Applicants will be required to demonstrate their cultural knowledge, community connection,



and approach to culturally safe care during the interview process.

Preferred

Experience supporting individuals in withdrawal management, addictions services, or community-based settings

Experience with programs and approaches such as Wellbriety, Red Path/Red Road Recovery teachings, healing circles, land-based healing, Elder-supported programming, and other Indigenous wellness frameworks.

Knowledge of Non-Insured Health Benefits Program

Knowledge of Indigenous-serving treatment centers and available supports

Experience collaborating across healthcare organizations, including regional hospital partners.

Experience facilitating groups or peer support programming

Knowledge of intergenerational trauma and impacts of colonization

Indigenous ancestry and/or strong demonstrated connection and accountability to Indigenous communities preferred Affiliation with Lodge or Elder within local Indigenous Community.

Experience working with individuals with complex needs

Assets

Peer Support certification (e.g., Mental Health Commission of Canada)

ASIST, safeTALK, or Naloxone training

Familiarity with social support programs such as Ontario Works, ODSP, OAS, and Children's Aid Society services.

Standard First Aid/CPR

Experience working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in hospital or community-based case management, health promotion or public health setting

Harm reduction philosophy

Ability to connect clients with Knowledge Keepers or Elders specific to nations to facilitate performance of ceremonies.

Preference will be given to qualified internal applicants before external candidates are considered.

About Us

At Hôtel Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH), we believe that being vital means showing up with purpose, passion, and the drive to make a difference. We are not just hiring; we are building a team of individuals who reflect the communities we serve and who bring their whole selves to the work they do.

HDGH is firmly committed to diversity, striving to ensure our organizational structures are representative of the demographic, ethno-cultural, linguistic, and geographic characteristics of the communities we serve. We value the opportunity to provide equitable employment opportunities and accessible employment practices for all communities, including but not limited to persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and members of identified visible minority groups and racialized communities.

Our hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and hospital needs, and we strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply. If you require accommodations during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify the Human Resources Department at (phone hidden) ext. 73023 so we can provide you with appropriate services.

And while you are considering joining our team, imagine living in Windsor, Ontario! Canada’s southernmost city which shares the same latitude as Rome, Napa Valley, and Barcelona. Here, you will enjoy miles of waterfront parks, a rich arts and culture scene, and the perks of big city life just across the border in Detroit, all with the charm and affordability of a close-knit, welcoming community.

📌 Indigenous Peer Support Worker (Winnipeg)
🏢 Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare
📍 Winnipeg