Indigenous Liaison in Calgary

The Indigenous Liaison will be focused on building connections with Indigenous communities to provide case management, capacity building, and support clients’ access to ceremony, and the organization’s continuing cultural competency as we work to advance Reconciliation.

ABOUT LUNA

The Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (formerly the Calgary & Area Child Advocacy Centre) is recognized as a centre of excellence in child abuse intervention and prevention. Luna’s multi-disciplinary team of experts from health, children’s services, law enforcement, justice, and victim services work together from one location to help young people and their families throughout the disclosure, investigation, and judicial process, and along all phases of their healing journey. This collaborative model surrounds young people and their families with the specialized supports they need and leverages shared expertise to build engaged communities where everyone plays a role in keeping children and youth safe. At Luna, our commitment to diversity is our promise to each other and the individuals and communities we serve. We believe in the inherent benefits of an inclusive and diverse organization that recognizes, embraces, and values all forms of diversity. We strive to remove barriers to inclusion in all aspects of our organization and service delivery, so that we may support, strengthen, benefit from, and contribute to the richness and complexity that is our community.

Reporting to the Manager of Programs and Victims Services, the Indigenous Liaison will help to ensure that Indigenous families who come through the Centre receive culturally respectful and relevant support, information and resources through the disclosure and investigation processes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide Indigenous children, youth and families impacted by child abuse with the ongoing supports required through the investigative, judicial, and healing process.
• Keep accurate documentation and statistics for reporting.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team: Calgary Police Service, RCMP, Children’s Services, Alberta Health Services, and Alberta Justice along with community agencies.
• Ensure families receive culturally responsive support in a timely and purposeful manner through direct case management and consultation.
• Maintain and build relationships and connections with Indigenous specific serving agencies to ensure Indigenous families are aware of and able to access the supports they may need.
• Build Luna’s relations with Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers in the communities we serve and make relevant connections for children and families as needed.
• Assist Luna team members and volunteers with collaboration and consultation on cases.
• Engage, collaborate, and build relationships with the Indigenous communities in and around Calgary.
• Increase awareness of the Luna Centre in these same communities.
• Establish and support relationships in Indigenous communities for children and families impacted by child abuse and represent the Luna Centre at relevant Interagency meetings.
• Continue to develop and refine culturally responsive services at the Luna Centre with an Indigenous lens and in collaboration with Indigenous Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers.
• Increase accessibility of Luna services to members of local and nearby Indigenous communities.
• Provide teaching and mentorship to Luna staff and leadership on understanding cultural protocols, cultural bias, cultural respect and ethical space, parallel worldviews, and ceremony.
• Inform professional development on cultural responsiveness and protocols for working with members of Indigenous communities.

Education, Qualifications and Skills Required:

• Degree/diploma in Social Work or relevant discipline, and significant lived experience, or work experience within Indigenous communities.
• Ability to understand or speak an Indigenous language would be considered an asset.
• Consistent and authentic demonstration of cultural respect and cultural humility (open to learn).
• Deep and personal knowledge of Indigenous communities, cultures, governance, histories, intergenerational trauma, and the importance of language.
• Knowledge of community resources, programs, and agencies that support Indigenous children, youth, and families.
• Connection to Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers either from previous work experience or personal lived experience.
• Understand the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, related practices, and initiatives (i.e., signs of safety) and their practical application.
• Understanding of Indigenous self-governance related to child safety and family enhancement.
• Understanding of the intergenerational and ongoing impacts of Colonization, the Residential School System and continuing systemic discrimination and/or racism on Indigenous peoples and communities.
• Knowledge of Indigenous healing practices, cultural teachings, protocols, and ceremonies.
• Demonstrated ability to build, strengthen, and maintain relations with Indigenous communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and all community partners.
• Proven ability to work with agility, cultural humility, and collaboration in diverse settings.
• Engaging, compassionate, and a great team player.
• Comfortable in leading/co-facilitating training/learning opportunities with various audiences.
• Competent in using Word, Microsoft, and other basic computer and database platforms.

The tentative start date for this position will be mid January once all reference checks and security clearances are complete.