Chi Gaa Gaat Chi Naataamowint Mama Aki Chi Piminopiimatizing
(Land-Based Guardian Mentor)
- Position type: Full-time, indeterminate or term
- Location: PO box 3, Fort Alexander, MB, R0E 0P0
- Reports to: Niigan Aki Program Manager
- Salary and Benefits: Competitive, commensurate with experience
- Application deadline: Position will remain open until filled
- Position start date: As soon as possible
Background:
Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation (Sagkeeng) is an Anicinabe First Nation that holds territory in the southern part of Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, approximately 120 kilometers north of the city of Winnipeg. Sagkeeng has a total population of 8,208 registered band members, with 3,644 living on-reserve. Sagkeeng’s reserve lands are located in Fort Alexander on both the north and south shores of the mouth of the Winnipeg River. Overall, Sagkeeng’s territory includes land within Treaty 1 and lands north and east of the Winnipeg River.
For years now, Sagkeeng has been identifying concerns on the land and calling for the need to put boots on the ground to identify the sources of these problems and create plans for remedying them. To do this, Sagkeeng is developing the Niigan Aki (“earth first”) Guardians Program with financial support from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) and the federal government’s First Nations Guardians Initiative.
A significant focus of the program is to design and implement a collaborative long-term environmental and rights-based monitoring program for Whiteshell Laboratories, including but not limited to the proposed Whiteshell Reactor #1 (WR-1) Decommissioning Project. However, activities will also extend to broader Sagkeeng interests and territory where possible and according to community priorities. Niigan Aki will act as a vehicle for environmental monitoring and adaptive management related activities, and program staff are expected to act as a trusted intermediary between the Sagkeeng community and Whiteshell Laboratories personnel.
We are in the process of developing this program and require someone with the knowledge and skills to begin to carry out land-based work for Niigan Aki, while mentoring other land-based Guardians who will be hired in future.
The position is described below in Anishinaabemowin:
Chi Gaa Gaat
(To Heal)
Chi Naataamowint
Mama Aki Chi
Piminopiimatizing
(To Protect Mother Earth to live a good life)
The Chi Gaa Gaat Chi Naataamowint Mama Aki Chi Piminopiimatizing will take on a long-term mentorship and land stewardship role and have a wide range of duties, that include the following:
- Identify priority areas and values where monitoring will take place through knowledge and wisdom of plants, trees, and animals;
- Carry out monitoring, enforcement, and Guardian work;
- Act as a support and mentor person to the Guardian team and must be able to support and advocate for team members when needed;
- Ensure safety on the land and water by users;
- Lead by example and teach by doing;
- Maintain relationships with Elders and spiritual leaders (i.e., knowledge keepers) to ensure that activities are carried out in a culturally appropriate manner and that ceremonies occur when appropriate; and
- Complete and organizing data collection and analysis work.
More information on required duties/responsibilities and qualifications is outlined below.
We will preferentially hire from within Sagkeeng Anicinabe membership.
Duties and responsibilities:
Program & Staff Management:
- Support community outreach activities (e.g., meetings, open houses, school events);
- Support the development and drafting of foundational program documents, including operational handbooks, and strategic plans that prioritize community values and direction;
- Support with staff Guardians recruitment, hiring, and mentorship;
- Oversee the daily activities of Guardians during program implementation;
- Provide guidance and mentorship to Guardians and project contractors (e.g., environmental monitoring trainers, etc.); and
- Ensure the maintenance and storage of Guardian program equipment.
Environmental Monitoring Program Development:
- Identify skills gaps for staff Guardians and implement a training program;
- Lead land-based work preparation, with the support of the other Guardians;
- Lead data collection and management systems and tools on the land (e.g., facilitation of semi-structured interviews, collecting western science data);
- Oversee data management after work on the land is completed, with support of other Guardians;
- Lead drafting of reports from data collection activities out on the land;
- Oversee and maintain records of land-based activities;
- Oversee equipment management and maintenance, with the support of other Guardians; and
- Ensure health and safety requirements of the Guardian team are met when out on the land.
Communication & Collaboration:
- Liaise with the Program Manager and CNL as necessary to understand and design land-based monitoring activities as needed (i.e., knowing the on-the-ground practicalities); and
- Support the Program Manager in meetings and workshops with the community, Sagkeeng staff and leadership.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Previous experience working with Indigenous Nations and understanding of Indigenous Knowledge/Traditional Knowledge;
- Physically fit, capable of frequently working outdoors for long hours in all weather conditions;
- Excellent first-hand knowledge of the land and ability to carry oneself safely when outdoors;
- Ability to maintain a community-first perspective and maintain relationships with community members (e.g., Elders and Knowledge Keepers);
- Excellent data management skills (e.g., collection of materials, storage management, reporting, analysis);
- Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication, and organizational skills
- Basic project management skills, including the ability to organize, prioritize, and plan work to meet time-based deliverables and adapt to changing expectations;
- Basic qualitative and quantitative data collection, management, analysis, and reporting skills (e.g., developing and maintaining data collection and entry protocols and databases, analysing and reporting on results);
- Strong ability to lead research (e.g., interviews) and report writing;
- Strong working knowledge of technology (e.g., GPS), including Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.);
- Maintain professionalism and have strong interpersonal and teamwork skills
- Maintain a high level of confidentiality;
- Strong sense of initiative and good judgement;
- Strong verbal and written communications;
- Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities; and
- Ability to travel when needed, must have own vehicle and valid driver’s license.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or greater in a relevant field such as environmental science, natural resource management, planning, geography, or social science would be an asset but is not required. Commensurate experience, including basic Traditional Knowledge and on-the-job experience would also be considered an asset.
- Experience in environmental monitoring program development and implementation;
- Experience supervising and managing employees;
- Experience with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software (ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth);
- Strong land-based environmental skills (GPS/orientation, sample collection, surveys, wilderness planning and safety); and
- Membership of an Indigenous Nation, or self-identifying as Indigenous.
To Apply:
In order to be considered for this position, you must submit a cover letter and resume outlining how you meet the above qualifications and how your previous experience will help you meet the job duties and responsibilities. Please also include the names and contact information for three references.
Sagkeeng is committed to respecting diversity, and specifically to increasing the number of Indigenous employees and gender equality within our workforce. As a result, we encourage all Indigenous applicants to self-identify in our recruitment and staffing processes; preference will be given to Indigenous applicants and Sagkeeng members who hold the qualifications needed.
Applications should be sent to:
By Email:
[email protected]
By Mail or In-Office:
Sandra Bunn
Sagkeeng Band Receptionist
Po Box 3
Fort Alexander, MB
R0E 0P0
