Job Details
Career Opportunity
Indigenous Liaison Worker - Halqemeylem
$36.36 per hour for 28 hours per week
Il stl’i kw’els spipetstexw kw’eset ite xwelmexwelh stexwlaq temexws ye Stó:lo mestiyexw.
Mission Public School District is located on the Traditional, Ancestral, Unsurrendered, and Shared territories of Stó:lo people, of Leq'á:mel, Semá:th, Máthxwi, Sq'éwlets and Qwó:ltl'el First Nations, stewards of this land since time immemorial.
Halq'eméylem is the language of this land and of Stó:lo ancestors. The place from where Halq’eméylem (Upriver dialect) originates is Leq’á:mel. The language comes from the land, and it has been this way since time immemorial.
Le Conseil scolaire de Mission est situé sur les terres traditionnelles, ancestrales, non cédées et partagées du peuple Stó:lo, des Premières nations, Leq'á:mel, Sema:th, Matheqwí, Sq'éwlets et Qwó:ltl'el, peuples de cette terre depuis des temps immémoriaux.
Mission Public Schools is dedicated to providing our students with an educational environment that nurtures the development of an Educated Citizen. Located in the beautiful Fraser Valley, Mission is a vibrant and diverse community with over 6200 students and 850 employees. We are committed to providing a safe, equitable, and inclusive educational system for all students in our thirteen urban and rural elementary schools, two middle schools, one secondary school, distributed learning centre, alternative learning centre, and vocational and technical college.
Accommodations/adjustments are available for interviews and in the workplace. If selected for an interview Human Resources will provide information on how to request accommodation/adjustments.
Summary
The Lwesteleq / Lweseleq te Halq'eméylem: HALQ’EMEYLEM LANGUAGE HOLDER is an speaker of Halq’eméylem. The Lwesteleq / Lweseleq te Halq'eméylem primary duty is to provide Halq’eméylem Language Instruction to learners in SD75. Secondary duties are to support the Siwal Si’wes Indigenous Education Department and Mission Public School District by embedding the Halq’eméylem language into specific initiatives, cultural ceremonies and events, and presentations, resources, and activities.
This is work of a support nature working under the general direction of the District Principal of Indigenous Education and at times, under the supervision of school-based administration. The Halq’eméylem Language Worker works as part of the Siwal Si’wes Indigenous Education Department.
Initially, the type and style of assistance and assignments are discussed with the District Principal Indigenous Education, but as the Indigenous Liaison Worker becomes familiar with services, materials, students and program resources, independence of judgment is exercised, within established guidelines.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
· Co-create a schedule with the District Principal of Indigenous Education and the Site Administrator of the school receiving Halq’eméylem instruction.
· Plan for, provide, and deliver Halq’eméylem language learning opportunities for SD75 learners. This includes but is not limited to:
o Vocabulary (words and phrases) in the Halq’eméylem language.
o The history of the origin of the Halq’eméylem language.
o How Halq’eméylem language are land are connected.
o Stories and Songs (Drumming and Singing) of the Halq’eméylem language and of the land.
· Collaborate with Siwal Si’wes Staff to embed Halq’eméylem into district wide and school-based specific initiatives, cultural ceremonies and events, and presentations and activities.
· Create, develop, plan, and implement Halq’eméylem specific cultural activities and presentations and/or workshops, and source resources for colleagues to be presented throughout all schools in the district,
· Enhance the understanding of Indigenous culture, in particular, Halq’eméylem among students and staff by advising of activities, materials, programs, and resources available for personal or classroom use.
· Liaises and communicates regularly with Siwal Si’wes Staff about the content shared with students during Halq’eméylem learning opportunities.
· Liaise with local Halq’eméylem Language Holders
· Attend SWSW District Planned Events such as, but not limited to SWSW Recognition Ceremonies, SWSW Cultural Strengthening Events as directed by the District Principal of Indigenous Education.
· Provide quarterly reports for the District Principal of Indigenous Education, showcasing Highlights and Challenges of the work.
· Demonstrate positive role modelling with children, youth, and parents.
· Ad here to and uphold all SD75 policies and administrative procedures.
· Perform other related duties as may reasonably be expected of a person in this position.
Required Qualifications:
- Completion of grade 12
- Diploma or completed program of studies at the post-secondary level such as First Nations Studies, Indigenous Support Worker, Social Services, Child and Youth Care
- Fluency in Halq’eméylem
Required Experience:
- A minimum of two (2) years experience conducting activities in a formal setting, with Indigenous children
Required Skills and Abilities:
- a proven interest in, and ability to work with Indigenous children and youth.
- relationship-based ability to facilitate the development of strategies that will enhance the personal, social/emotional, cultural, and educational development of Indigenous learners.
- considerable knowledge of Indigenous cultures, heritages, and value systems, of Stó:lō Peoples, and the ability to share with students and staff.
- knowledge, understanding and sensitivity of the effects and impacts of historical educational experiences of Indigenous peoples, including transgenerational trauma.
- ability to incorporate trauma-sensitive practices into work practices.
- ability to cultivate and nurture positive relationships with learners and families of Indigenous ancestry.
- ability to build and maintain working relationships with all internal and external contacts, including conducting self in a safe, caring, and respectful way.
- willingness to participate in cultural strengthening learning opportunities and related in-service training and to assist in presenting in-service to other staff.
- ability to express ideas accurately and effectively, both orally and written
- ability to work in a cooperative team situation.
- ability to work flexible hours within assigned weekly hours.
- ability to work without direct supervision.
- knowledge of healthy and safe work practices in accordance with WorkSafe BC Regulations for Workers and ability to work in a safe manner.
- a valid BC Driver’s License and vehicle
NOTE: A clear Criminal Record Review to be provided, and updated every five (5) years
Hiring preference for this position will be given to qualified applicants with Indigenous ancestry (as per Special Program exemption with the BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner). Applicants should clearly indicate their ancestry/status on their application.