JOB POSTING

Indigenous Relations Manager – York Region Pilot Project

Full-Time • 1-Year Contract (with possibility of extension)
Location: York Region (based at YSSN offices; travel required across the region)
Start Date: January 2026
Salary: $27/hour range
Employer: Anishnabeg Outreach Employment & Training Inc. (AO)

About Anishnabeg Outreach (AO)

About Anishnabeg Outreach (AO) & AONest

Anishnabeg Outreach (AO) is an Indigenous-led non-profit and registered charity that drives tangible and positive transformation within First Nation, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) communities. Our mission is to provide a sustainable and comprehensive suite of centralized, wrap-around services, acting as an innovative hub for reconciliation, economic development, and wellness. Currently, we serve the Waterloo Region and we are now expanding our support to Indigenous communities across Canada.

The work we do starts at our Centres for Reconciliation in Kitchener and Guelph, Ontario. We define reconciliation as healing and economic independence for Indigenous individuals. Presently, Indigenous communities face almost insurmountable barriers to reconciliation, stemming from unresolved intergenerational trauma and resulting in food insecurity, homelessness, incarceration, and suicide. Many Indigenous are struggling to obtain employment which means they cannot gain economic independence. We will help heal all currently underemployed Indigenous by helping them address their mental health concerns, build their spirit, rebuild family and community, recover language, culture, traditions, and ceremony, gain essential life skills, and become job-ready.

To that end, AO developed a software system called AONest, which offers self-guided mental health management and outcomes. AONest provides accessible, 24/7 digital resources grounded in Indigenous teachings, such as the Medicine Wheel and Grandfather Teachings, combined with clinical mental health practices. The content is delivered through thousands of hours of videos, and users can complete accompanying worksheets. The courses are organized into four portals: Mental Health, Spirit Building, Foundational Relationship Skills, and Essential Life Skills.

AO is expanding work into York Region through a new partnership with Your Support Services Network (YSSN). This pilot project focuses on identifying service gaps, strengthening partnerships, supporting Indigenous residents, and laying the foundation for long-term Indigenous-led healing and system navigation in York Region.

Position Summary

The Indigenous Relations Manager (IRM) will lead AO’s York Region Pilot Project. This role is responsible for community outreach and relationship building:

• Conducting a regional needs assessment
• Supporting Indigenous residents in connecting with culturally safe services
• Strengthening partnerships between AO, YSSN, and local organizations
• Helping shape long-term Indigenous-led models of healing and support in York Region

This is a community-facing, relational role. The ideal candidate carries lived experience, cultural grounding, humility, and the ability to walk alongside community in a trauma-informed, strengths-based way.

Key Responsibilities

Community Engagement & Relationship Building

• Build trusting relationships with Indigenous residents, families, Elders, youth, and community groups
• Identify and engage “hidden” or underserved Indigenous community members
• Attend events, gatherings, and partner meetings as an AO representative
• Maintain a consistent, culturally safe presence across York Region

Partnership Development

• Work collaboratively with YSSN to support Indigenous clients and improve pathways to care
• Provide guidance on cultural safety and Indigenous approaches to wellness
• Strengthen relationships with school boards, child welfare, health agencies, and other local partners

Needs Assessment & Research

• Lead a comprehensive, culturally grounded needs assessment
• Collect data through community conversations, talking circles, interviews, surveys
• Support the development of a local Indigenous Steering Committee
• Prepare summaries, reports, and recommendations for AO and funders

Program Delivery & AONest Support

• Introduce Indigenous residents to AONest as a culturally safe digital resource
• Support YSSN teams in integrating AONest into their client pathways
• Work with AO’s mental health and cultural teams to adapt AONest content for local needs

Community Event Coordination

• Help plan at least one community gathering (or a series of smaller gatherings)
• Gather stories of impact, feedback, and community priorities

Project Documentation & Reporting

• Track outreach, engagement, and community connections
• Maintain project logs, engagement summaries, and partnership trackers
• Contribute to reporting requirements for funders (CIF)
• Document the AO–YSSN partnership model for replication

Qualifications

Education & Training (any combination welcomed)

• Diploma or degree in Indigenous Studies, Social Work, Social Service Work, Community Development, Psychology, or a related field
• Certificates in Indigenous community work, mental health, healing, counselling skills, or similar
• Training in trauma-informed practice, cultural safety, harm reduction, or community-based research
• Equivalent lived experience and community-based knowledge are highly valued

Required

• First Nations, Inuit, or Métis identity OR strong, proven experience working within Indigenous communities
• Knowledge of Indigenous culture, teachings, and protocols
• Experience engaging and supporting Indigenous people in urban settings
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and community outreach skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners
• Ability to travel throughout York Region

Preferred / Assets

• Experience in mental health, healing, cultural safety, or frontline support
• Experience conducting needs assessments or community-based research
• Comfort supporting clients with digital learning or online platforms
• Understanding of challenges faced by Indigenous people living off-territory
• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle (mileage reimbursed)

How to Apply

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to:

📧 hr@aocan.org

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. We thank all applicants for their interest and commitment to Indigenous wellness in York Region.