EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Cultural Coordinator, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
Full Time Position
Location: Thompson, Manitoba
Under the supervision of the MMIWG Liaison Unit Director, the Cultural Coordinator will support the MMIWG Liaison Unit in the delivery and implementation of land based cultural programming and ceremonies as healing, prevention and intervention modalities for MMIWG2S+ impacted families and survivors of gender-based violence. Additionally, the incumbent will design and deliver culturally responsive and dignified trauma informed health and wellness supports for individuals who have been impacted by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (MMIWG2S+). This includes providing emotional and cultural wellness support to families, survivors, and communities who are impacted by gender and race-based violence. These health and wellness support services are available to any First Nation people on and off reserve belonging to one or more of the 26 MKO communities.
The incumbent understands the historical context of Indigenous peoples in Canada and how it contributes to the widespread impact of trauma, recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma, understands considerations needed to contribute to wellness, integrates knowledge about trauma into communications and settings, and understands how to implement these into their daily practice. The incumbent is required to perform duties that are in keeping with cultural and professional protocols while providing healing and wellness support to individuals impacted by MMIWG2S+ and survivors of gender-based violence.
Role and Responsibilities
- Provide cultural and land-based leadership using decolonizing, Indigenous-led approaches to support the MMIWG Liaison Unit in delivering respectful, culturally rooted services.
- Provide and/or arrange the provision of short-term safe and culturally appropriate mental wellness supports for families and survivors, while respecting individual and family beliefs, traditions, customs, and spirituality.
- Support the planning and delivery of healing, wellness, and other related programming for those supported by the unit.
- Assist in the organization and delivery of gatherings, events and other MMIWG Liaison unit related initiatives.
- Provide the MMIWG Liaison Unit with guidance in incorporating cultural knowledge, traditions, and protocols into the units work and service delivery.
- Liaise with community partners and stakeholders.
- Develop and deliver trauma-informed, culturally based workshops and materials.
- Raise community awareness of the MMIWG Liaison Unit, MMIWG2S+ and violence prevention in facilitated discussions, workshops and community visits.
- Administrative duties such as record keeping, letter writing, developing agendas and scheduling appointments.
- Must be willing to actively participate in various Indigenous cultural practices and protocols related to land-based healing and wellness activities, beyond those that are self-led.
Participant Contact and Support:
- Provide holistic wellness support rooted in a strength-based, dignified, trauma-informed, person-centred, and barrier-free approach.
- Assist individuals and/or families in developing wellness and safety plans, including setting wellness goals to cope with challenging and overwhelming emotions.
- Address emotional variability by defusing situations and debriefing with families, survivors, and those supported by the unit in a dignified, trauma-informed, and respectful manner.
- Refer MMIWG2S+ families and survivors of gender-based violence to fellow Elders, Traditional Healers, and Knowledge Keepers as requested and provided ongoing follow up.
- Attend community events and gatherings in support of MMIWG2S+ family members.
- Document all contacts with designated individuals, other family members, or staff from allied agencies, noting information provided, assistance offered, referrals, etc.
- Maintain appropriate documentation and keep detailed notes of participant interactions, while ensuring the secure handling and storage of confidential documents.
Intra/Inter-department and Agency Collaboration and Coordination:
- Create and maintain positive working relationships with agency professionals who are also working with families who have missing or murdered loved ones and survivors of gender-based violence.
- Network with community resources to maintain positive inter-agency relationship while gaining understanding of their service mandates.
- Partner with community agencies to providing healing opportunities and wellness supports for families and survivors.
- Attend inter-agency meetings as required.
- Attend community events/training as required.
Other Responsibilities:
- Commit to continuous learning on the issue of MMIWG, violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and exploitation and human trafficking, including best practices in supporting impacted families and survivors.
- Perform various office administration duties as required.
- Ability to work overtime and in a variety of outdoor settings.
- Travel to remote/isolated First Nations communities throughout Manitoba, usually at very short notice.
- Maintain strict confidentiality as outlined under The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) and The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
- Maintain compliancy with governmental Child Abuse Disclosure requirements at all times.
- Engage in educational and training opportunities as needed.
- Participate as an effective team member with all staff in scheduled supervision and staff meetings, remain up to date with current knowledge and skills in pertinent areas, and complete assigned projects and tasks on time.
- MKO is political advocacy organization that works to represent the leadership and member First Nations. All staff at MKO may be given other duties as assigned that enable MKO to fulfill the mandate and responsibility to its member communities.
Education and Experience
- High School Diploma, or equivalent.
- Experience working within a harm reduction and dignified trauma informed care organizational structure that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma, including intergenerational trauma and the impacts of colonization.
- Understanding of various aspects of holistic wellness and considers all components relating to a person’s wellbeing including emotional, physical, mental, spiritual, and cultural needs.
- Experience in program evaluation involving a variety of data collection and evaluation methods.
- Comprehensive understanding of and commitment to the continual learning of First Nations traditional healing practices and models of wellness.
- Excellent written communication skills for the purposes of developing background information, presentations, workshops and training materials, report writing, and other related materials.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office software and Internet research tools.
- Ability to comply with all MKO policies and procedures.
- Must posses a valid driver’s license and be willing to travel.
- Must be able to obtain a satisfactory Criminal Record Check (including Vulnerable Sector Search), a satisfactory Child Abuse Registry Check and a satisfactory Adult Abuse Registry Check upon hiring.
Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience
Interested applicants are invited to submit their cover letter identifying the position applying for and resume, along with 3 professional reference listings (include a most recent employer reference) by 4:00 p.m. on June 24, 2026.
We thank all who apply and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. Preference will be given to qualified First Nation applicants; applicants are encouraged to self-declare in their resume or cover letter. No phone calls will be accepted.
Incorporated in 1981 as the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO). MKO is a non-profit, political advocacy organization that provides a collective voice on issues of inherent, Treaty, Indigenous, and human rights for citizens of the 26 sovereign First Nations we represent. The MKO First Nations are signatory to Treaties 4, 5, 6, and 10.
Please visit our website at mkonation.com
