The Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator will advance Nature United’s focal strategy of working in partnership with Indigenous peoples to strengthen their leadership and authority around natural resource management in the boreal forest of Manitoba. This work focuses on initiating and developing partnerships with local Indigenous communities, particularly those whose traditional territories are intersected by the Forest Management License Area 2 commercial forest tenure in northwest Manitoba, and is likely to focus on initiatives like supporting land use planning for traditional territories, supporting the development of community-led monitoring and stewardship programs (e.g. Guardian programs), exploring approaches to engage emerging young leaders, and enhancing peer connections between Indigenous communities of Manitoba and other parts of Canada. This position will be a key member of the boreal program team, reporting to the current Community Outreach Lead, and working closely with the Boreal Program Manager, Forest Ecologist, and Boreal Conservation Director. In addition to this position’s work in Manitoba, the Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator will support advancement of Nature United’s cross-Canada work to strengthen Indigenous leadership and authority by engaging with Nature United staff working on the ground in our other geographies, primarily coastal British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. This is a full-time, 3-year term salaried position, with strong potential for permanent status.
The Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator will work in partnership with Indigenous peoples to:
- Support pathways to strengthen governance and the decision-making role of Indigenous peoples over their traditional territories;
- Help enhance stewardship capacity to support Indigenous peoples to fulfill their cultural responsibilities to care for their lands and waters;
- Build and sustain leadership to foster the next generation of leaders and support the wellbeing and resilience of existing leaders; and
- Catalyse local sustainable economies to support the community wellbeing that underpins long term care for territories.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Work with Community Outreach Lead to develop annual workplan for community engagement across multiple First Nations;
- Act independently on assigned tasks, exercising independent judgment based on analysis and experience, to implement the workplan;
- Develop and maintain relationships with community representatives, identifying shared work and providing stewardship support as requested. This would include elected and traditional leadership, stewardship staff and community members (e.g. Elders, land users, youth) and will likely include many face to face meetings;
- Develop and maintain relationships with others involved in the project such as academics, industry representatives and government;
- Provide logistical support in organizing workshops and other meetings;
- Help with managing and processing grants to communities and other administrative tasks related to this work;
- Work within scope of current project requirements and program’s strategic goals; and
- Travel frequently and sometimes on short notice.
- 3 years of experience in conservation, community development, resource management, or other related experience;
- Experience working for or collaborating with Indigenous communities;
- Proven success designing and implementing community-based projects related to Indigenous leadership and/or resource management; and
- Ability to work independently.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge of current trends and context of Indigenous leadership and stewardship in Manitoba;
- Experience working with Indigenous peoples in Manitoba or Boreal Canada;
- Creative problem-solving skills and experience;
- Project management skills;
- Experience organizing or coordinating events;
- Strong writing, speaking, and listening skills;
- Background in Indigenous Knowledge systems and application of these systems to natural resource management;
- Community planning, land use planning, and facilitation experience;
- Knowledge in forestry, wildlife management, protected areas or fisheries appreciated but not required; and
- Excellent communications skills.