Position Summary

The Indigenous Elder will play a crucial role in creating a supportive and culturally sensitive environment for residents within the facility. This position involves offering spiritual and emotional support, guidance, and wisdom to individuals accessing our services. The Elder will work closely with residents to foster community, well-being, and healing within the supported living environment.

Key Responsibilities

- Facilitate Cultural Activities- Organize and lead cultural activities, ceremonies, and teachings that promote healing, resilience, and connection to indigenous culture and traditions.
- Provide Emotional Support- Offer compassionate listening, guidance, and encouragement to residents experiencing challenges or crises, utilizing traditional Indigenous approaches to healing and wellness.
- Create Safe Space- Cultivate a safe and welcoming atmosphere withing the facility, ensuring that all residents feel respected, valued, and supported in their journey toward stability and empowerment.
- Promote Cultural Awareness — Educate front-line staff and residents about Indigenous culture, history, and perspectives, fostering greater understanding, respect, and appreciation for diversity.
- Collaborate with Staff— Work with staff, including the Operations Manager, to integrate Indigenous cultural practices and values into the facilities' programming and operations.
- Perform other related duties as required to support program and organizational needs.

Core Competencies

- Indigenous Identity: Must identify as an Indigenous Elder and have a strong connection to Indigenous culture, spirituality, and traditions.
- Cultural Knowledge: Deep understanding and knowledge of Indigenous cultural practices, ceremonies, teachings, and protocols.
- Empathy and Compassion: Demonstrated ability to provide empathetic,



non-judgmental support to individuals experiencing homelessness, trauma, or other challenges.
- Communication Skills: Effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills, including active listening and the ability to convey complex ideas and emotions with sensitivity and clarity.
- Team Player: Ability to work collaboratively with staff and residents, fostering a positive and inclusive community atmosphere.

Qualifications

- Must identify as an Indigenous Elder and have a strong connection to Indigenous culture, spirituality, and traditions.
- Deep understanding and knowledge of Indigenous cultural practices, ceremonies, teachings, and protocols.
- Experience working in a supportive/mentorship
- Experience or comfortability working in housing/homelessness women’s services, Indigenous organizations, social services, or non-profit settings is an asset.
- Experience or comfort working with people with active substance use, mental health and physical health complexities, who experience significant barriers and require a high level of support
- Knowledge or comfort working with harm reduction is an asset.
- Recent Vulnerable Sector Check is required.
- Valid Class 5 driver’s licence is as asset.
- Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Working Conditions

- Work may include office duties, program sites, meetings, community engagement, and occasional off-site activities.
- Flexibility may be required for programming, events, training, cultural activities, or urgent operational needs.
- The role may involve supporting individuals who have experienced trauma, crisis, homelessness, violence, mental health challenges, or substance use.
- Some evening or weekend work may be required depending on programming needs.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract

Pay: $35.00-$45.00 per hour

Benefits:

- In office parking
- Paid time off

Work Location: In person

📌 Indigenous Elder at Temporary Transitional Housing (TTH) (Yellowknife)
🏢 Yellowknife Women’s Society
📍 Yellowknife