Work With Us

Indigenous youth in the Northern Health Region of British Columbia (BC) lack access to residential programs that provide specific support for mental health and holistic healing. Despite representing 35.6% of the First Nations population in BC, there are currently very few Indigenous-led treatment facilities in the region, with the three most relevant offering a combined 30 beds for Indigenous youth in need. As a result, Indigenous youth often have few options and face long wait times for care.

A serious need exists for a place where Indigenous youth can access care that acknowledges the social determinants of health and takes a more holistic approach to healing. Currently, hospitals are not a safe option for youth due to systemic racism in the healthcare system, as highlighted in Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond's recent report "In Plain Sight." Interventions that respect Indigenous holistic values and traditions, and promote resilience factors already present in Indigenous culture are more likely to be successful in supporting youth on their healing journey.

To prioritize the mental health of all staff members, Tsë lhts’ënc’il nec’igekh be yikh acknowledges the challenging and emotionally taxing nature of working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Staff members, regardless of their level of training, may find it difficult, triggering, and draining. Therefore, the healing lodge provides counseling services to staff members who require emotional support after a difficult session, as well as days off to recuperate.

Furthermore, the healing lodge recognizes that employees may also experience personal crises outside of work. In such cases, the lodge encourages a compassionate and understanding approach and offers access to external support services to ensure that employees have the necessary resources to cope with difficult situations.

Tsë lhts’ënc’il nec’igekh be yikh wishes to maintain a work environment that fosters personal and professional growth for all employees while prioritizing the mental health and wellness of all staff. We are looking for team members who will help us uphold a culture that will:

• Foster cooperation and communication amongst all staff

• Ensure everyone treats each other in a fair manner, with dignity and respect

• Promote harmony and teamwork in all relationships

• Encourage and consider the opinions of other employees or members, and invite their participation in decisions that affect their work and their careers

• Encourage growth and development of employees by helping them achieve their personal goals at the Witset Youth Healing Lodge and beyond

• Seek to avoid workplace conflict, and if it occurs, respond fairly and quickly to provide the means to resolve it

• Administer all policies equitably and fairly, recognizing that jobs are different but each is important; that individual performance should be recognized and measured against predetermined standards; and that each employee has the right to fair treatment

• Recognizing that employees in their personal lives may experience crises and showing compassion and understanding in such a situation

• Strive for mutual understanding of standards for performance expectations, and communicate this routinely to reinforce that understanding

• Incorporate and elevate Wet’suwet’en and Indigenous culture and knowledge into all aspects of Tsë lhts’ënc’il nec’igekh be yikh

In order to ensure every staff member is able to experience personal and professional development during their term of employment at Tsë lhts’ënc’il nec’igekh be yikh, the organization will not run an active program approximately 6 weeks per year. This will allow Tsë lhts’ënc’il nec’igekh be yikh to:

• Ensure time for continued training and professional development.

  1. Ongoing training (required and requested) will be provided during these weeks.

  2. Program assessment, adaptation and updates to occur that incorporate lessons learned from previous sessions into the plan for future sessions.
     

• Ensure the mental health of all staff is prioritized.

  1. Ongoing work with individuals suffering from various types of trauma can be difficult, triggering and draining - even for highly trained staff. It is important for this to be recognized and respected for all staff members. Counseling will be provided to staff during these times in addition to days off to recuperate after a difficult session.

• Competitive salary

• Comprehensive benefits package

• RRSP matching up to 5%

• Interesting, challenging work that directly benefits Indigenous youth in BC

Witset First Nation who operates Tsë lhts’ënc’il nec’igekh be yikh provides equal employment opportunities to all, regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, political belief, creed, disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions or that cannot be accommodated, or conviction for which a pardon has been granted.

Should two or more applicants have comparable or equivalent skills and qualifications, preference will be given, in the following order, to:

• Persons with specific knowledge of and/or experience with the Wet'suwet' en language, culture, history and customs;

• Persons of Aboriginal, Metis or Inuit ancestry;

• All others

We will provide thorough training and orientation for all positions. We understand not everyone has formal education, so an emphasis will be to work with & identify community members who exude natural empathy & competency, and help these individuals to achieve by providing them thorough training & orientation that suits the positions they are interested in attaining in the future (both in the short-term & long-term).

Upcoming training sessions will be available soon on our website and shared on social media accounts.

1. Position is posted on our website and job boards

2. Applicants apply to position by closing date (if applicable) by submitting their resume

3. Resumes are reviewed

4. Screening questionnaire designed by Witset youth sent to selected candidates

5. Questionnaires are reviewed

6. Interviews with successful candidates are scheduled

7. Successful candidates are selected, references are conducted and criminal record/vulnerable sector checks are completed

8. Final interviews scheduled (if applicable)

9. Letter of offers presented to successful candidate

Learn more here