Details:
JOB SUMMARY
The Kwakiutl Health Centre is looking for a Food Truck Harm Reduction Coordinator who will work to connect people with lived/living experience (PWLLE) with substance use to each other and to the larger Kwakiutl and North Island First Nations communities. The Anitsa’s Ha’mi’ksi’las Harm Reduction Coordinator works within a trauma-informed, Indigenous harm reduction and client-centred framework. Personal experience with substance misuse, harm reduction and recovery is a plus. Practical food truck operations and logistical organizing is a major part of the job.
ABOUT ANITSA’S HA’MI’KSI’LAS (AUNTIE’S KITCHEN)
This is an FNHA land-based grant which seeks to reduce stigma, increase a sense of community and reduce isolation for Kwakiutl and other persons with living experience of substance use. We believe that food is medicine; the food truck functions as a community kitchen and safe gathering place that provides free food to those in need. The truck will operate in Tsaxis 1 day per week, 1 day in Tsulquate, 1 day in Quatsino and 1 day downtown Gwa’dzi (Port Hardy), leaving 1 weekday in Tsaxis for cleaning, stocking and maintenance.
The following land-based healing principles are a crucial portion of this grant:
A culturally safe model of care is essential to the Food Truck’s operations; staff will provide referrals to traditional healing modalities as well as standard treatment centre referrals upon request and traditional teas and salves will be offered in addition to standard western harm reduction items such as Naloxone
Anitsa’s Ha’mi’ksi’las (Auntie’s Kitchen) is locally controlled and fosters collaboration; we will meet persons where they are in terms of substance use and will encourage other members including Elders and youth to interact over food
Community is encouraged to contribute portions of garden, fishing and hunting harvests; the Coordinator will work closely with the Addictions and Recovery worker as well as the cooks for the food truck, Food Connections Coordinator, local harvesters.
WHAT IS INDIGENOUS HARM REDUCTION?
Some Indigenous harm reduction principles included in this program are the following:
Viewing addiction as a health and social issue, not a moral or criminal issue that can result in complex personal health and social consequence, involvement with the law and premature death
Strategies and services are trauma-informed.
Supporting individuals and communities wherever they are at in their wellness journey.
Recognizing that stigma and shame are factors that need to be taken into consideration and addressed
Outreach services for people who do not access site-based services: food, safer smoking/injecting kits, condoms, etc.
Services are human-centred - inclusive, caring, and trauma-informed.
Strategies and services are based on a foundation of cultural safety and humility.
Acknowledging family relationships, community, Nation, and land
Incorporating Indigenous beliefs, values, and practices: medicinal plants, ceremony, Elder consultation etc.
Qualifications & Experience:
SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS
Understand and use principles of Indigenous harm reduction
Create a safe and neutral gathering space for all
Provide harm reduction information
Be able to work independently and take direction when needed
Ability to prioritize and organize food truck presence in four North Island communities
Assist cook(s) with menus, incorporating traditional food whenever possible
Assist cook (s) with purchasing food and “go” utensils, fuel and propane
Maintain vehicle maintenance and logbooks, including proper disposal of used oil and grey water
Maintain day to day kitchen operations of the truck
Make appropriate referrals to as needed and requested for PWLLE
Ability to connect and respectfully communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences
Knowledge of Kwakiutl cultural and language is a plus
Should have and maintain a valid BC drivers license and Food Safe certification (will assist with Food Safe training)
Ability to drive truck and food trailer (will train if needed)
QUALIFICATIONS
Post-secondary education with a minimum of one year cooking and/or supervising cooking in a community-based setting
WORKING CONDITIONS
Standing, sitting, bending, lifting, carrying, squatting, kneeling, stretching
Working outside on the land and water in various weather conditions may be required
Some irregular work hrs may be required (i.e., for community gardening days on weekend)