Ethical Space Knowledge Facilitator
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society is hiring a 11-week, part-time contract ‘Ethical Space Knowledge Facilitator.’
About Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary:
The Nature Sanctuary Society is a registered non-profit charity organization that fosters understanding and appreciation of nature through direct experience. For nearly 50 years the Sanctuary lands have provided a conserved space for an incredible array of native plants and animals, and educational programming for millions of people to forge deeper connections to nature.
We acknowledge that the Nature Sanctuary is on the ancestral territories of the lək ̓ʷəŋən peoples, represented by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, represented by the W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) Nations.
We respect the vital relationships of First Peoples with these lands and waters for countless generations. We are honoured to invite and welcome Indigenous guidance and collaboration in stewardship and appreciation of the Nature Sanctuary.
The Nature Sanctuary lands are owned by Saanich, except for two small parcels which are Nature Trust BC Lands. The lands are governed by the volunteer Board of Directors of the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society, a non-profit and Registered Charity organization, under the terms of a Land Management Agreement between the Society and the Municipality of Saanich.
Read more about the Nature Sanctuary by navigating the links at the following URL.
About the position:
The Nature Sanctuary has received federal grant support from the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk for the ‘Rare Species Recovery in an Urban Greenspace through Community Stewardship.’ This grant provides support for weaving Indigenous and Western worldviews in the stewardship of one of Canada’s threatened ecosystems. Ethical spaces create places where differing worldviews interact with mutual respect, kindness, generosity and other basic values and principles. In ethical spaces, knowledge systems are equal and no single system has greater legitimacy than another. The Ethical Space Knowledge Facilitator will assist in creating materials and frameworks to welcome Two-Eyed Seeing offerings on site. Through the valuable guidance and support of local Indigenous knowledge holders, we have assembled a library of Indigenous resources recommended by the First Nations Education Steering Committee. These supplies will supplement the Ethical Space Knowledge Facilitator’s work to create welcoming and engaging offerings in the Nature House for our broader community. This position will also explore ways to provide resources for Indigenous Youth and offer ways to learn about Traditional Ecological Knowledge on site respectfully. Finally, the Ethical Space Knowledge Facilitator will support organizing gatherings at the Nature Sanctuary.
Specifications:
- One position available on site in Victoria, BC
- Part time 21 hours/week, $25/h, 11 week contract with possibility for extension.
- General schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9:00am to 4:30pm (0.5h unpaid lunch), but can be flexible with successful candidate to create optimal balance.
- Some schedule flexibility required to support occasional meetings and other events.
The Ethical Space Knowledge Facilitator will:
- Assist in creating materials and frameworks to welcome Two-Eyed Seeing offerings on site
- Create welcoming and engaging offerings in the Nature House for our broader community
- Explore ways to provide resources for Indigenous Youth and offer ways to learn about Traditional Ecological Knowledge on site respectfully
- support organizing gatherings at the Nature Sanctuary
- Support the creation of outreach materials
- Maintain continuity among work teams by communicating with others
- Contribute to overall team efforts by accomplishing related tasks as needed
Qualifications:
- Experience using computing tools, such as the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
- Hands-on experience with office equipment (e.g. photocopiers machines and printers)
- Professional attitude and appearance
- Solid written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to be resourceful and proactive when issues arise
- Excellent organizational skills
- Multitasking and time-management skills
- Customer service experience
- Ready access to reliable transportation
- High school diploma
Knowledge, skills and abilities:
- Telephone skills
- Verbal communication
- Computer skills
- Social media experience
- Listening
- Professionalism
- Organization
- Informing others
- Handle pressure
- Conflict resolution
- Anti-oppression awareness
Assets:
- Interest in design
- Interest in Natural History
- Fondness for tea and/or chocolate
Eligibility:
To be eligible to participate in this initiative, individuals must meet Nature Canada’s Work to Grow program criteria:
- Between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive)
- Legally entitled to work in Canada
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or granted refugee status
- Identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour
The job description represents generally what we are seeking for this position, however we are open to folks who may have other skills to share. We encourage applicants with various educational and professional backgrounds to apply. This includes but is not limited to environmental sciences, Indigenous Studies, biology, education, social work, art, graphic design, or hospitality. The successful candidate will gain experience in nature education, local biodiversity identification and monitoring, invasive species management, project management, research and non-profit administration.
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a community-focused organization. We centre human dignity and growing our connections to each other and to our environment. We believe that each of us is responsible for addressing discrimination and that we co-create peace and good relationships.
If you find either this position or our workplace of interest, please consider applying.
To learn more about our workplace and possible accommodations, please email Dr. Cara Gibson – cgibson [at] swanlake.bc.ca
Note: A Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check will be requested of the successful candidate. Work will be conducted with adherence to COVID-19 safety practices.
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary requires all staff to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Individuals who cannot be vaccinated for medical or for reasons recognized by the BC Human Rights Act may request accommodations.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of this work, however the list is not exhaustive and other duties and responsibilities will occur. The Nature Sanctuary retains the right to amend responsibilities as needed.
To Apply:
Please use our online portal below.
Please include two references (email addresses and phone numbers) with your resume.
Application deadline: Jan 2, 2024. Please apply as soon as possible for consideration.
Position to begin: Jan 15, 2024. Due to agreement with the funder, this contract must end on March 31, 2024.
We are grateful to all applicants, however, due to the volume of applications that we receive and the size of our staff team, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
We are unable to provide feedback or career coaching, but refer people to the provincial resources and other local resources [URLs embedded].