Braiding Sweetgrass – Facilitator

Hull Services has an organizational commitment to pursuing truth and reconciliation, decolonization and anti-oppression.

Braiding the Sweetgrass is a program offered to Indigenous families in Calgary by Hull Services. This program guides Indigenous families through the effects of intergenerational trauma (IGT) to a place of well‑being. In Braiding the Sweetgrass (BTS), families experience culture, community and reconnection on their journey of healing. The primary goal of BTS is to create a foundation upon which we can build a future for healthy Indigenous families, free from the trauma cycle.

Hull has developed this unique approach blending Traditional healing practices and Western understanding of brain development and the effects of trauma. Elders are important wisdom keepers of Traditional knowledge and a team of selected Elders from a variety of tribes have been integral contributors to the development and delivery of the program. Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) has provided the lens for understanding trauma and working with culture to heal the effects of IGT.

Braiding the Sweetgrass is looking for a full‑time Facilitator for a one‑year contract. This position will work in an unstructured workweek, including evenings and weekends in order to accommodate family visits, group and community gatherings. BTS Facilitators work in collaboration with the Program Coordinator, Program Director, Hull Services Elder and other program facilitators to effectively develop and deliver programming.

Preference will be given to individuals who have lived experience with Indigenous Canadian cultures.

• Facilitate programming as set out in the Braiding the Sweetgrass program design and objectives, with consideration for unique needs of the people we serve
• Work with Elders and clinical specialists to integrate Traditional and Western approaches to programming and well‑being
• Ensure effective administration of the program by actively participating in team meetings and preparing for all program related activities (i.e. marketing, recruiting, intake, data collection, etc.)
• Plan and/or support extended opportunities for past participants that may include monthly gatherings, access to Elders, ceremony, mentorship programs, workshops and community engagement
• Plan and deliver content specific programming to participants according to program mandate
• Write debriefing notes following each programming session specific to participants
• Engage in home visits with participants in between programming dates
• Create and keep current and up‑to‑date files according to CARF guidelines
• Provide advocacy for the people we serve in the Indigenous community and beyond
• Enhance cultural connections for families

• Degree or diploma in Human Services or a related field
• At least 2 years of relevant experience
• Well‑developed time management and communication skills
• Ability to work well in a team environment as well as independently
• Demonstrated organizational and administrative skills, and ability to manage multiple projects and tasks
• Demonstrated initiative and reliability
• Extensive knowledge of Indigenous culture(s)
• Extensive knowledge of intergenerational trauma — the causes and the impacts
• Open to participation in activities, ceremonies and practices to promote well‑being and Indigenous culture
• Ability to work in a culturally diverse Indigenous program in a non‑Indigenous specific organization
• Understanding of or open to learning NMT and brain development concepts as it relates to trauma
• A solid network of relationships with other family‑serving organizations, and the Indigenous community and resources
• Flexibility and availability for evening and weekend work
• A Police Information Check, which includes a vulnerable sector search, is required (or is in process of being completed) prior to employment
• A Child Intervention Record Check
• Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license and ability to drive Agency vehicles is required (min. 3 years driving experience with a class 5/GDL class 5 license)
• Completion of ASIST, First Aid, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and…