Employment Opportunities
The Survivors’ Secretariat is a Survivor-led, trauma-informed organization dedicated to uncovering, documenting, and sharing the truth about what happened at the Mohawk Institute. We invite Survivors, family members of Survivors, and allies to join us in the important work of truth-telling.
Please see below for current employment opportunities with the Survivors’ Secretariat. If you have any questions about a position, please contact us at
Current Full-Time Postings
Executive Liaison
Job Status:
Salaried, Full time
Please submit Cover Letter, and Resume.
View the Full Job Description »
Job Description
As the Executive Liaison for the Survivors’ Secretariat, you will provide executive level administrative and clerical support to the Secretariat Lead. Work includes scheduling of meetings, making travel arrangements, organizing the daily schedule for the Secretariat Lead, supervision of administrative team, providing oversight of expenses and expenditures associated with office employees and the Board.
The Executive Liaison provides leadership, support, guidance, and mentorship to staff and those providing services and resources to the Survivors’ Secretariat. The Liaison is a critical and valued part of the Secretariat team, through participation in recruitment, retention, and workplace relations. Working with the Secretariat Lead, this position will bridge the work of the Board of Directors and ensure that the work of the Secretariat remains in line with and accountable to Survivors and the Board.
Key Responsibilities
- Work closely with Board/Secretariat Lead and Communications team to proactively respond to media enquiries.
- Lead/participate in the development of Board of Director meetings, including agenda, coordination of materials for Board members.
- Participate/assist in the writing or editing of funding and grant submissions.
- Project Planning and Assignment of work- incorporation of department work plans into reporting templates for Board of Directors and Funders.
- Provide a daily oversight of:
- Delegation of working duties.
- Coordinating with human resources and payroll to onboard new employees.
- Scheduling, coordination and booking of travel.
- Review and approval of travel and expense claims.
- A Professional focus on creating healthy working relationships that includes:
- Provide support when requested and needed to other Survivors’ Secretariat projects by coordinating with and supporting colleagues.
- Ensure adherence to the principles of OCAP and the development of an Indigenous Data Sovereignty framework to ensure the protection and safety of all that is recovered during the Secretariat’s work.
- Participate in relationship building practices and processes to assess, improve, reclaim, revitalize, and recover nation to nation relationships.
- Working with community partners, service providers and cultural supports to ensure a culture of relationships that work to respect and honour the distinct nature of identity that each community possesses.
- Strengthening relationships with stakeholders to identify a network of partners that will work together with the Secretariat to support the Survivors.
- Facilitate survivors’ meetings involving impacted communities that foster advocacy relationship building, collaboration, and advance the work of Survivors and the work of the Secretariat.
- Create opportunities for Survivors to be part of commemoration activities.
- Foster and build collaborative opportunities within Six Nations and beyond.
- Cultivate relationships within Six Nations, across diverse communities, funders, and levels of government to advance the work and mandate of the Secretariat.
Education And Experience
- Post-Secondary degree in a relevant field preferred, plus 3-5 years of direct senior administrative experience at the senior leadership level OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience that directly relates to the essential duties and responsibilities.
- Experience working in an Indigenous organization is an asset
- Demonstrated experience in effectively working with people with complex needs and vulnerabilities
- Demonstrated cultural knowledge including awareness, knowledge, and empathy
- Demonstrated experience and or understanding of trauma informed practices
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience working within an Indigenous organization or community.
- Advanced knowledge and awareness of Indigenous cultures
- Extensive knowledge of the legacy of Indian Residential Schools
Location and Compensation
- The Successful Candidate will be required to work mostly from the Survivors’ Secretariat office located at Six Nations of the Grand River, with some flexibility for remote work
- The Survivors’ Secretariat will provide a competitive compensation to attract an experienced Candidate
Interested Candidates are encouraged to review the full website of the Survivors’ Secretariat and Volume 4 of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Construction Cultural Monitor
Job Status: Open
Reports to: Secretariat Lead & GPR Team Lead
Hourly ($20/hour), Part time
Please submit Cover Letter and Resume
View the Full Job Description »
Organization Description
The Survivors’ Secretariat was established in 2021 to organize and support efforts to uncover, document and share the truth about what happened at the Mohawk Institute during its 140+ years of operation.
Job Description
As Cultural Monitor for the Secretariat, you will be assigned to obtain firsthand knowledge of the archaeological excavations and construction in areas that are known to have cultural sensitivity or have the potential for cultural deposit. It is anticipated that the Monitor will receive various assignments and that in some sensitive areas may encounter buried artifacts, features, and possibly human remains.
Key Responsibilities & Duties
- Monitor all ground distributing activity including mass grading, grubbing, weed abatement, trenching and any excavation on previously disturbed and undisturbed ground.
- Ability to recognize cultural artifacts, human remains, village sites, midden deposits; must have the ability to read maps.
- Request excavation work to stop so that new discoveries can be evaluated.
- Help to ensure ancestral human remains and any associated grave items are treated with culturally appropriate dignity.
- Attend/participate in job-related conferences & trainings resulting in some travelling, overnight stays, or extended periods.
- Create sketch maps for site identification.
- Maintain a record of clear, accurate and detailed notes regarding cultural observations throughout field activities daily. Attention to detail and accuracy is required.
- Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions.
Qualifications & Experience
- Cultural Monitors shall have the ability to follow oral and written instructions, taking accurate and detailed notes daily.
- Must exhibit and utilize forthright, timely and transparent communication for achieving program, team and accountability objectives. The ideal candidates(s) will demonstrate initiative responding to all requests, complaints, and/or issues in a timely manner.
- Cultural monitors will be knowledgeable about their respective tribe’s history and traditional practices, making them uniquely qualified to identify cultural resources important to their respective tribes during construction.
- Basic computer skills: the ability to use email is required.
- Ability to perform general mathematical computations is also required.
- Must occasionally work odd or extended hours and on weekend days as program objectives and needs may dictate.
- Must obtain or have a Valid Driver’s License.
Professionalism:
- Demonstrates the ability to work independently and as a team member, especially related to cultural practices, field conditions and coordination of duties/activities.
- Must always be respectful and professional with all parties involved. Rude or bullying behavior will not be tolerated.
- Must adhere to safe work practices and recognize that your support for safety helps set a safe work environment.
- Due to the nature and sensitivity of the information retained within the Secretariat and the possibility of a Criminal Investigation, a Non-Disclosure Agreement is required.
- Must adhere to the personnel drug and alcohol polices.
- Available to work a flexible schedule, including some afternoons and weekends.
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Interested Candidates are encouraged to review the full website of the Survivors’ Secretariat and Volume 4 of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
View the Full Job Description »
System Navigator
Job Status:
Full-Time Position
Please submit Cover Letter, and Resume by 4:00 PM EST on February 28, 2023.
View the Full Job Description »
System Navigator
The System Navigator is responsible for the day-to-day activities associated with informing Survivors about the process involved when they provide a statement to the Survivors’ Secretariat or the Police Task Force. The System navigator will ensure Survivors are informed and understand the privacy protections built into the process and what they are consenting to when sharing their statement.
Key Responsibilities
- Be the main point of contact with Survivors as they begin the statement process
- Explain the different ways Statements can be shared with the Secretariat and/or the Task Force
- Explain privacy protections, and consent forms
- Explain how an interview is conducted, and what to expect
- Explain what supports and resources are available in the Survivors’ local community and coordinate referrals to Survivor specific programs
- Liaise and advocate on behalf of the Survivor with the Task Force, the Human Rights Monitor and the Cultural Monitors as needed or required
- Are available to Survivors after their statement if needed to assist in connecting/ reconnecting with resources and/or answer any questions the Survivor have.
- Update Survivors on the progress of the Task Force’s work
- Attend the Six Nation’s High Risk Committee meetings (community situational table) on behalf of the Secretariat
- Attend the Six Nation’s Social Services Committee meetings on behalf of the Secretariat
- Attend Secretariat and Survivors meetings as required
Education And Experience
- Social Service/ Social Work Background and relevant experience
- Experience working within Justice/ Social Service Sector
- Trauma informed approach to working with survivors and
- Strong planning, organizational and problem-solving skills
- Ability co-ordinate with First Nation, municipal, provincial, and federal service providers
- Demonstrated problem solving and critical thinking skills
- Knowledge of the Indian Residential School System, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and the history of the Mohawk Institute.
- Experience working independently and with a team.
- Available to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends.
- Valid First Aid Certificate
- Priority will be given to Intergenerational Survivors.
Location and Compensation
- The Successful Candidate will be required to work mostly from the Survivors’ Secretariat office located at Six Nations of the Grand River, with some flexibility for remote work
- The Survivors’ Secretariat will provide a competitive compensation to attract an experienced Candidate
- Given that the Candidate will be working with older Survivors, proof of COVID vaccination will be requested
Interested Candidates are encouraged to review the full website of the Survivors’ Secretariat and Volume 4 of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
View the Full Job Description »
Please submit cover letter and resume by 4:00 PM EST on February 28, 2023 to .
Ground Search Analyst/Coordinator
Job Status:
Salaried, Full time
Please submit Cover Letter, and Resume by 4:00 PM EST on February 28, 2023.
View the Full Job Description »
Ground Search Analyst/Coordinator
The Ground Search Analyst/Coordinator is responsible for day-to-day collaboration efforts between the Secretariat and technical partners in the analysis of data associated with ground search on grounds associated with the Mohawk Institute.
Reporting to the Manager of Ground Search, the Analyst/Coordinator will provide day-to-day direction, support and coordination to those involved in the analysis of ground search data including but not limited to Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), and the use of arcGIS to build interactive mapping data to support enhanced details tied to georeferencing overtime. The analyst position is premised on a mentorship/learning environment that is fostered through collaboration with Post-Secondary Anthropology and Archeology departments.
Key Responsibilities
- Exploration of current technologies used to investigate ground search efforts
- Work with Six Nations Archeology, Secretariat Human Rights, and Cultural Monitors to address questions tied to findings associated with data analysis
- High level of confidentiality is honoured in all stages of work
- Review all completed GPR grid data, track, and document what grids have been completed and entered in tracking systems used by the Secretariat and its collaborating partners.
- Ensure that the manager is regularly updated on work efforts
Education And Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field preferred, plus two years of directly related experience working with Residential School Survivors and Intergenerational Survivors.
OR
- An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted if it directly relates to the essential duties and responsibilities.
- Experience working in an Indigenous organization is an asset
- Demonstrated experience in effectively working in a scientific/analytic atmosphere
- Demonstrates cultural knowledge, including awareness of practices, ceremony, history and legacy
- Demonstrated experience and or understanding of Trauma Informed Care
- Minimum of 2 years of experience working within an Indigenous organization or community
- Strong knowledge and awareness of Indigenous culture, and both historical and contemporary
- Indigenous issues. Emphasis being on the impacts of trauma and community outreach
- Ability to analytically process data, willingness to learn new technologies
Location and Compensation
- The Successful Candidate will be required to work mostly from the Survivors’ Secretariat office located at Six Nations of the Grand River, with some flexibility for remote work
- The Survivors’ Secretariat will provide a competitive compensation to attract an experienced Candidate
- Given that the Candidate will be working with older Survivors, proof of COVID vaccination will be requested
Interested Candidates are encouraged to review the full website of the Survivors’ Secretariat and Volume 4 of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
View the Full Job Description »
Please submit cover letter and resume by 4:00 PM EST on February 28, 2023 to .