In line with the University of Waterloo’s goal of promoting and supporting Indigenous initiatives and a culture of equity, diversity and inclusivity for all, Campus Wellness strives to create a diverse and inclusive staff team that reflects our society and our student body. In order to address the unique needs and concerns of Indigenous students, we are seeking an Indigenous candidate who has knowledge and experience in mental health and wellness matters related to the lived experiences of Indigenous individuals and communities. This role will receive support from and work closely with the Office of Indigenous Relations and the Indigenous Student Services. 

The Indigenous Student Wellness Navigator (ISWN) is accountable to a Manager, Counselling Services for the provision of direct individual and a group wellness programs and services, as well as traditional healing and wellness practices for Indigenous Students. This position has dotted line reporting to the Office of Indigenous Relations to ensure ongoing collaboration on traditional healing and wellness practices for Indigenous students as well as proactive support for the ISNW. The ISWN will assist Indigenous students with navigating health & mental health services on and off campus, ensuring access to and provision of culturally appropriate health care services and link students with the health and community supports required to transition back to community upon graduation, where appropriate. This position also acts as a cultural resource for health care providers working with Indigenous students. Ultimately, this position underpins our mission which focuses on supporting and promoting academic success, student and campus mental health, as well psychological wellness and safety among members of a diverse and global Waterloo community. This position also underpins the mission of the Office of Indigenous Relations to decolonize and Indigenize the University of Waterloo.

The successful candidate will be First Nations, Metis, or Inuk (Inuit) Inuit with lived experience of Indigenous world views, cultures and values and strong ties to First Nations, Metis and/or Inuk (Inuit) communities.

In the University of Waterloo’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025, it states, “We particularly recognize Indigenous students, faculty, staff and alumni. We are committed to learning about the rich history and culture of Indigenous people of this land and an institutional response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls for action.” In line with the University’s Strategic Plan, and the Indigenization Strategy, the Project Manager, Indigenous Initiatives strives to address the underrepresentation of Indigenous people and to increase specialized support for Indigenous faculty members. To enhance the effectiveness of this activity, the ideal candidate will meet the articulated qualifications below and will be an Indigenous person (First Nations Status or Non- Status, Métis, or Inuk (Inuit). Lived experience in an Indigenous community or communities is required. The University is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. The selection process for this position will follow the provisions for a special program as described by the Ontario Human Rights Code to address the underrepresentation of individuals from equity-deserving groups. Improving the representation, participation, and engagement of equity–deserving groups within our community is a key objective of Waterloo’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025. As such, this position is open only to qualified individuals who self-identify as First Nations, Metis, or Inuit with lived experience of Indigenous world views, cultures and values and strong ties to First Nations, Metis and/or Inuk (Inuit) communities.

We are asking each interested applicant to include a statement indicating if they identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit in their cover letter. Supporting documentation for membership/citizenship in an Indigenous community will be required and possibly additional information about community connection, family, and relationship to working with Indigenous communities/knowledges may be required, if an applicant is invited for an interview. Please note that our recruitment system has limitations. Hiring managers will only see the last updated version of the application (cover letter and resume) as older versions will be overridden. Therefore, if you are applying to more than one job simultaneously, your self-identification will be available to all hiring managers.

Clinical Services - supporting mental health and wellness, as well as academic and personal success of Indigenous Students

• Individual appointments with students to identify their goals and create a care plan
• Conduct risk of harm assessments
• Support students with navigating and accessing health and mental health services on and off campus
• Provide support before, during and after appointments where appropriate
• Help connect students with cultural community on and off campus
• Facilitate and coordinate the delivery of traditional healing and wellness programs and services with individual students or with groups
• Responding to students in crisis
• Clinical case notes and report writing
• Discharge planning and referral completion
• Design, facilitate and evaluate seminars sessions on various topics related to Indigenous wellness
• Design, facilitate and evaluate training to student leaders and other key stakeholders across campus on various topics, including well-being or culturally specific wellness workshops such as medicine wheel teachings
• The partnership for the mental health, health and wellness, well-being and safety of the campus community includes active collaboration and teaming with a focus on client issues of shared concern
• Attend a minimum of monthly supervision meetings with Manager, Counselling Services
• Attend a minimum of one monthly meeting per month with consultant from Indigenous community on campus, as assigned by OIR

Wholistic Wellness Practice

• When required, provide cultural teachings to students
• Holds space for Indigenous student group programming related to wellness (workshops, circles, and other wellness activities)
• Provides resources for and directs students to areas designated to meditate, smudge, and access medicines in Campus Wellness spaces
• Maintains the medicine bundle/smudging materials for Campus Wellness

Advocacy - the Navigator is an advocate for and supports Indigenous students’ academic success and personal learning.

• Engage in internal and external partnerships with local Indigenous community supports and on campus Indigenous resources such as the Office of Indigenous Relations and the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre to build a network of support for Indigenous students
• Identify Elders to call on for support with Indigenous students
• Facilitate training opportunities for various stakeholders around Indigenous wholistic wellness supports
• Collaborate with Indigenous and Non-Indigenous campus partners to make both the wellness and academic journey of students, a culturally safe experience
• Consult with key campus support services (e.g., Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre, AccessAbility Services, Student Success Office) related to students’ personal and academic needs
• Collaborate and consult with faculty, including individual faculty members, the Associate Deans’ offices, and academic support areas in the interest of students’ academic success, retention and graduation

Relationship Building – The Navigator builds a network of colleagues and establishes relationships with multiple community services.

• Develop relationships and partnerships across campus and with local FNMI communities
• Develop relationship with the third party sponsored organization for students when needed
• In collaboration with other stakeholders, help create relationships from an Indigenous perspective/service need
• Establish multiple connections to local community services, organizations, knowledge keepers, Elders, campus partners, to better serve Indigenous students

Intern Supervision and Training

• Under the direction of their Manager, the ISWN may provide supervision of Indigenous students in a related field of student who are participating in internship or practicum placements at Campus Wellness

Multi-Disciplinary Team Member

• As part of a multi-disciplinary team, the ISWN attends interdisciplinary team meetings, Campus Wellness meetings, Clinical Case Consultations, meetings with OIR and WISC as needed, and other meetings as requested or directed by their Manager in Counselling Services

• A bachelor’s degree in social work, social development studies, or related field
• Trained in life promotion or crisis intervention strategies
• Theoretical and/or practical training in case management and support coordination
• Theoretical and/or practical training in group facilitation and/or leading traditional healing circles
• The successful candidate will be First Nations, Metis, or Inuit with lived experience of Indigenous world views, cultures and values and strong ties to First Nations, Metis and/or Inuit communities
• Proven experience relationship-building within Indigenous communities
• Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health crises, connecting clients to resources, & providing mental health support to individuals
• Experience with case management/system navigation models & principles
• Experience with and supportive of traditional healing practices
• Experience in working university or college setting or with post-secondary student population is beneficial and strongly preferred
• Counselling or outreach experience with culturally marginalized, at-risk, Indigenous, and other underrepresented groups
• In-depth knowledge of colonization, Indigenous and Canadian histories, intergenerational trauma in the context of Indigenous people
• Knowledge of the Indian Act
• Knowledge of mainstream health services and community resources, specifically for First Nations, Inuit and Metis programs and services in the Waterloo Region
• Thorough understanding of Indigenous cultures, practices, and ceremonies
• Knowledge of current issues facing Indigenous people
• Skilled in public speaking and educating others on issues facing Indigenous people
• Ability to perform some culturally relevant ceremonies would be an asset
• Familiarity with current research and professional literature pertaining to racial trauma and how it may impact a student’s experience, both emotionally and academically
• Excellent interpersonal, communication (oral and written) and organizational skills
• Demonstrated initiative and strong skills in problem solving and decision-making
• Proven ability to work effectively with a multi-disciplinary team
• Superior collaboration, facilitation, and negotiation skills
• Willingness to participate in Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, teachings, and ceremonies
• Clean and current vulnerable sector police check as a condition of employment

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca  or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.