Only Members of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Direct Descendants of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe May Apply
Full-Time
6/2/26-OUF
Days and Shifts: Monday-Friday, 8a-5p
Wage: $21.31
Eligible Employer for Public Student Loan Forgiveness as a non-profit
SCIT recognizes that work-life balance is essential in day to day operations. Our Flexible Schedule and Telework options for employees make it possible to balance the needs of your family while still being on track at work. Flexible Schedule and Telework options are based on the departments need. The Tribe is a community based organization and we understand your family life is important, it’s important to us too.
Here are some of the benefits our team members get working for the Tribe: 16 Paid Holidays off include: New Year’s Day, M.L. King Jr. Day, President's Day, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, SCIT National Holiday, Labor Day, Michigan Indian Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. We never miss those special moments with our children, family & friends due to working.
Our paid time off accruals for annual and sick leave are as followed: 0-3 years of service = 2 hours of annual & sick per 40 hours worked; 3-9 years of service = 3 hours of annual & sick per 40 hours worked; 10 years or more of service = 4 hours of annual & sick per 40 hours worked. Plus you get 16 hours of personal time per calendar year (prorated based on your start date, resets every Jan.1). We also have Bereavement, Longevity, Fitness, and maternity/paternity leave.
Full Time employees get Medical, Dental, & Vision insurance. Flex Spending accounts, Teladoc, life insurance, accidental death, Long Term Disability, Aflac, and 401K which SCIT matches up to 4%.
Prescription plan with free fills on most generic brands when using our Cardinal Pharmacy.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Behavioral Health Director, the Anishinaabek Cultural Liaison will collaborate with psychiatric staff, residential treatment team, other tribal departments and community programs to integrate Western clinical medicine with Traditional Healing practices. Serving as a primary liaison to the Cultural Healer, this role ensures a cohesive, holistic approach to wellness by bridging medical services with indigenous healing traditions for all tribal communities served. Provide information on programs and available services; dispel stereotypes concerning substance abuse services, behavioral health issues, and Traditional Healing practices. Work in a Behavioral Health multidisciplinary team atmosphere. This role ensures that cultural knowledge is integrated with other services, supporting staff, Elders, Knowledge Holders, and community members to ensure that services reflect and respect Anishinaabe values, cultural protocols, and promote balance of the mind, body, spirit, and emotions (Mino-bimaadiziwin). All Behavioral Health staff must adhere to mandated reporting laws.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Collaborate alongside the tribal psychiatrist to assist clients in holistic care based on the client’s preference for treatment.
- Assist in building rapport and collaborating with Behavioral Health staff on increasing cultural knowledge and awareness that will assist clients.
- Develop cultural programs designed to accommodate the educational, social, emotional, creative, and learning needs of clients and the tribal community.
- Develop self-respect and pride within youth and enhance their role in their families and community through the use of traditional activities and project-based learning.
- Provide cultural professional development for Behavioral Health clinical and support staff, other tribal programs and outside agencies in order to build cultural competence.
- Assist clinicians with referrals to appropriate cultural and traditional healing resources.
- In-depth knowledge of Traditional Medicines and their uses.
- Maintain the oversight and maintenance of the BH Sweat Lodge and Ceremonial Lodge.
- Attend Native American local and regional cultural, ceremonies, social, spiritual gatherings and willing to assist the community culturally and present on topics of culture.
- Attend spiritual teachings and trainings to enhance knowledge and skills on Anishinaabek cultural and traditional ceremonies.
- Attend clinical team meetings (both outpatient and Residential Treatment Center-RTC) and provide cultural consultation to assist clients or families.
- Conduct group presentations that focus on cultural wellness.
- Serve as a direct liaison for clients seeking services and existing services.
- Facilitate the use of Traditional Healing ceremonies, traditional medicines and the O’deswanning (sweat lodge) with a Traditional Healer.
- Represent the department on wellness and cultural activities at internal and external committees and project teams.
- Participate in appropriate workshops, seminars, meetings and courses as approved or recommended.
- Collaborate with other tribal programs and psychiatrist/psychologist to ensure a holistic approach within the Behavioral Health environment.
- Work closely with the Traditional Healer to prepare and facilitate cultural and traditional ceremonies.
- Assist the tribal community with various cultural support requests.
- Maintain inventory of cultural related materials for community events and teachings.
- Assist in qualitative and quantitative data collection through assessment of community needs, community readiness and asset mapping.
- Assist in the development of a system to track and monitor data related to cultural healing and other important health and safety issues to ensure comprehensive and quality data collection for analysis and early identification and prevention purposes.
- Regularly produce reports, graphs, tables, charts etc. that effectively presents and summarizes data for review by the BH Leadership Team, the BH Quality Assurance Team, Grants and Contracts, Tribal Administration and Tribal Council.
- Develop and compile protocols and procedures for BH on ceremonies, fasts, sweats, celebrations, and feasts while respecting the protocols of each Traditional Healer’s view on written documentation of these cultural events.
- Develop a volunteer base for BH Traditional Healers who will perform such duties as fire keeping, splitting wood, medicine gathering, sweat lodge helpers, and ceremonial assistance.
- Adhere to patient confidentiality and comply with clinic policies and federal regulations under the Privacy rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Provide excellent customer service for all internal and external customers of the operations at all times. Provide solutions for customer concerns and continually focus on customer service as our top priority.
- Must maintain strict confidentiality and present a positive, professional demeanor and image at all times.
- The above duties and responsibilities are not an all-inclusive list but rather a general representation of the duties and responsibilities associated with this position. The duties and responsibilities will be subject to change based on organizational needs and/or deemed necessary by the supervisor.
Contacts/Purpose of Contacts:
- Contact with community members.
- Contact with tribal Social Services in advocating for the family/Indian Child Welfare dynamics of tribal mental health.
- Contact with tribal youth, adults, families, the public, social services, court or legal systems and other agencies and providers deemed appropriate to accomplish effective services and treatment exercising discretion and judgment.
- Empowered to interact with all levels of personnel to accomplish client goals.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Associates Degree in Native Culture/Indigenous Studies or a related cultural discipline.
- Three (3) years experience in the Anishinaabek culture, traditions, and history within the SCIT community.
- Experience in working collaboratively across multiple organizations and community systems.
- Minimum of three (3) years experience in developing and delivering programs and services.
- Minimum of two (2) years experience in a leadership capacity.
- One (1) year experience in speaking at public events, conferences, and/or meetings.
- Must be able to pass background check to meet the employment eligibility requirements as they pertain to the position.
- Must be a SCIT member or descendant.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience working within Behavioral Health field.
- Experience with substance abuse treatment protocols and the judicial and legal system.
License, Certification, or Special Requirements:
- Obtain HIPAA certification within five business days from date of hire.
- Must have a valid State of Michigan Driver’s License with the proper designation required for the vehicle utilized to perform the job duties; must be able to obtain and maintain a Tribal Driver’s License and qualify for coverage by SCIT auto liability insurance carrier.
- Native American preference shall apply to all positions.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment.
- Knowledge of substance abuse and prevention.
- Knowledge of cultural traditions and ceremonies.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with individuals of varying social and cultural backgrounds and with co-workers at all levels.
- Ability to represent organization in a professional manner, building respect and confidence in the community.
- Collaborate with a Traditional Healer to assist with facilitating Traditional Healing ceremonies, traditional medicines and the O’deswanning (sweat lodge).
- Ability to present information about the programs.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
- Ability to carry out instructions furnished in verbal or written format.
Physical Demands:
- Frequent use of hands, wrists, fingers associated with computer equipment.
- Required to sit for extended periods of time.
- Occasionally walk and stand.
- Normal visual acuity, ability to talk and hear.
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Work Environment:
- Normal office environment, ceremonial lodge, community events, and residential treatment center.
- High stress level as associated with the demands of crisis interventions and emergencies is encountered as a result of challenges in the behavioral health field.
- Mandated reporting of abuse and neglect can lead to personal challenges with exposure to victims of abuse.
- High incidence of exposure to communicable diseases and blood borne pathogens.
- Extended hours and irregular shifts may be required.
- Travel may be required.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
