Atlohsa Family Healing Services
Job Title: Administrative Assistant (Giwetashkad)
Location: London, OntarioEmployment Term: Part-Time; Contract to March 31, 2027 (possibility of extension)
Salary: $25 to $30 per hour
No. of Positions: 1
Closing Date: October 30, 2026

About Atlohsa

Atlohsa Family Healing Services is an Indigenous led non-profit organization in Southwestern Ontario dedicated to empowering Indigenous communities through traditional and land-based healing practices. Since 1986, we have provided low-barrier, wraparound services to individuals and families facing complex challenges such as mental wellness, substance use, homelessness, and domestic violence. Our wholistic wellness approach is rooted in the Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings and the Medicine Wheel Teachings, utilizing a Two-Eyed Seeing approach that emphasizes collaboration, mutual respect, and the recognition that both Indigenous and Western knowledge systems contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the world.

About the Program

“Giwetashkad” is an Anishnaabemowin (Ojibwe language) word and concept that can roughly be translated to “circle” or as an action of moving in a circular fashion or as “coming back around”. As the root word “giiwe” means “home,” and is also the root of the word “giiwedinong” or the Northern direction – where the spirits go home – “Giwetashkad” is a term that evokes movement through the cycles of life, rebirth, and renewal.

Initiated in 2017, the Giwetashkad division represents a comprehensive Indigenous homelessness strategy to address the alarming rates of homelessness among Indigenous peoples in London. This initiative is rooted in local knowledge and history, promoting themes of home, rebirth, and renewal. Over the years, Giwetashkad has transformed into a suite of Indigenous-led programs and services that utilize cultural knowledge to combat the ongoing impacts of colonization and support truth and reconciliation efforts. Ultimately, Giwetashkad serves as a foundational model for the ongoing efforts to "bring people home" and alleviate Indigenous homelessness by reconnecting individuals to their cultural and spiritual identities.

Role and Responsibility

The Administrative Assistant provides administrative and operational support to the Giwetashkad leadership team. Mainly working from Atlohsa’s Wiigiwaaminaan Lodge, the role supports the effective day-to-day administrative operations of Giwetashkad programs and contributes to advancing the goals and priorities outlined in both the Giwetashkad Indigenous Homelessness Strategic Plan and the ARCH report. This includes coordinating meetings and team initiatives, taking detailed meeting minutes, compiling monthly credit card reconciliation packages, supporting operational planning and staff training logistics,



and ensuring administrative and reporting requirements are completed accurately and on time.

The Administrative Assistant works collaboratively with leadership, staff, funders, community partners, and other stakeholders to support the coordination and implementation of Giwetashkad’s priorities. The position requires a high degree of professionalism, discretion, trauma-informed principles, organization, and confidentiality. All actions taken within this role should be informed by the 7 Grandfather Teachings.

This role is part-time, providing 20 to 24 hours per week. Shifts will be scheduled Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm. The person’s specific schedule will be determined in consideration of their existing academic or skilled commitments. Applicants with availability for Tuesday mornings and Wednesday afternoons are preferred.

Suitability

- Post-secondary education (completed or in-progress) in Business Administration, Office Administration, Social Services, Communications, Indigenous Studies, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of community and/or professional experience, is an asset.
- Previous experience providing administrative or operational support in a professional, non-profit, community-based, or social services environment is an asset.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing correspondence, meeting agendas, minutes, reports, and other administrative documentation.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy, particularly when handling financial documentation, credit card reconciliation, records, and reporting requirements.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint, and the ability to learn new administrative systems.
- Experience coordinating meetings, calendars, staff activities, training logistics, and other operational initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive personal, financial, and organizational information.
- Understanding of and commitment to trauma-informed, culturally responsive, low-barrier, and strengths-based approaches, centering Indigenous perspectives, cultural safety, and the impacts of colonization.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the languages, traditional ways, history, and cultures of the Indigenous population in the London region.




- Strong analysis of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonization impacts Indigenous people.
- Understanding of how homelessness disproportionately impacts Indigenous communities.
- Vulnerable Sector check will be required.
- Demonstrated commitment to working respectfully within an Indigenous-led organization and to the principles reflected in the Seven Grandfather Teachings; experience working with Indigenous communities or knowledge of Indigenous cultures and traditions is considered an asset.

While applicants are under no obligation to do so, Atlohsa welcomes applicants to indicate their own lived experiences of navigating homelessness, substance use, and/or Indigenous community teachings within their application. Professional experiences, academic experiences, traditional teachings, and personal lived experiences are all valuable forms of knowledge.

How to Apply

If interested to apply for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with Administrative Assistant (Giwetashkad) in your subject line.

Within the body of your email, please provide answers to the following questions:

- Please briefly outline where your experience with or understanding of First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis communities comes from. You may note professional, academic, or your own personal lived/community experience.
- Are you a First Nations, Inuk, or Métis applicant? If yes, please indicate which community you are from. If you are not connected to your community, just write what you know.

At Atlohsa, we value diversity in our workforce and encourage all qualified candidates to apply, however, due to the nature of our organization, preferences will be given to qualified Indigenous applicants.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources to make arrangements.

Our organization does not use artificial intelligence (AI), automated screening tools, or algorithm-based systems to screen, assess, or rank job applicants. All applications are reviewed by human members of our hiring team.

We thank all those who apply, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Pay: $25.00-$30.00 per hour

Benefits:

- Company events
- Paid time off

Application question(s):

- • Please briefly outline where your experience with or understanding of First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis communities comes from. You may note professional, academic, or your own personal lived/community experience.
- • Are you a First Nations, Inuk, or Métis applicant? If yes, please indicate which community you are from. If you are not connected to your community, just write what you know.

Work Location: In person

📌 Administrative Assistant (Giwetashkad) (London)
🏢 Atlohsa Family Healing Services
📍 London