Health - Traditional Ojibway Practitioner

Position Summary: The Traditional Practitioner under the direction of the Medical Director, Assistant Health Director and/or Clinic Manager, is responsible for providing direct patient care services at our Sault Tribe Health Clinics located in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The position assists in maintaining the daily operations of the clinical settings to meet patient medical needs or expectations of the program. The position is responsible in providing traditional healing and doctoring to community members visiting or residing in service areas. The Traditional Practitioner will provide Traditional Anishinaabek methods for treating illness and/or problems of all types. The Traditional Practitioner is to help synchronize services so that Western and Traditional Anishinaabek medicine can work together.

Essential Functions: Provide direct services to clients by doctoring and counseling through ceremony, healing and traditional teachings. Ensure that appropriate delivery and integration of traditional healing practices are facilitated and encouraged throughout Sault Tribe Health Division. To prescribe needed traditional treatment for patients. To provide ceremonies to patients. Conduct Sweat Lodge ceremonies. Identify, process, and harvest traditional medicines. To oversee ceremony preparation. To act as a spiritual and cultural role model.

Additional Responsibilities: Provide traditional teachings and to increase the knowledge of traditional healing to the Sault Tribe Health Division through awareness and workshops. Act as a staff resource for traditional medicine topics. Healers will promote traditional indigenous values. Healers must always represent themselves in an honest manner. Healers shall respect the fundamental rights of each individual. Healers will be responsible about the use of their gifts. Healers are mandated reporters and must inform the appropriate authorities in regard to suspected or identified child abuse, suicide, or danger to others. Healers will make sure the client has adequate continuity of care regarding traditional healing practices. Healers shall not discriminate. Education of groups of traditional medicine. All other job-related duties as assigned. Contacts: Patients, customers, immediate peers, peers in other departments, immediate supervisor/manager, directors, managers in other departments, the general and tribal public and Board of Directors.

Physical Requirements: Position type heavy with lifting of 100 pounds maximum with team or dual lifting and frequent lifting/carrying up to 50 pounds. Physical factors include constant use of hearing, color and field of vision; frequent standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, reaching, manual handling, use of smell, near/midrange vision, depth perception, driving and bending and; occasional carrying/lifting, pushing/pulling, climbing, crawling, far vision and typing. Working conditions include frequent exposure to noise and air quality and occasional exposure to weather, extreme heat/cold, wet/humidity and vibration. Potential hazards include constant patient and/or client contact; occasional computer use, medical equipment and occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts, electric shock, high exposed places, chemicals, infectious exposure, needles/syringes and other equipment.

Education: High School diploma or equivalent preferred. Advanced knowledge of traditional medicine practices used by Anishnaabek Communities, traditional plants, herbs, traditional teas, ointments, and medicines which are commonly used by Anishnaabek required. Advanced knowledge of traditional healing practices and customs of the Anishnaabek required.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of formal practicing of Traditional Medicine for a tribal community required. Must be able to provide references from respected medicine people and/or communities worked in.

Certification/License: Will be required to undergo and successfully pass a background check. Must maintain a good moral character standing. Must have a valid driver's license and be insurable by the Sault Tribe Insurance Department. Must comply with annual driver's license review and insurability standards with the Sault Tribe Insurance Department. Will be required to complete and pass pre-employment drug testing.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Must have experience and working knowledge of the traditional medicine practices and ceremonies. Must possess sufficient knowledge to provide primary medical care within scope of traditional practices. Must possess advanced knowledge and experiences in working with Native Communities. Basic computer skills and word processing preferred. Knowledge of westernized clinical operations preferred, Health Division, Tribal Organization structure, programs and services preferred. Must be able to work with diverse populations. Must have abilities to effectively communicate in Anishinaabemowin, have strong interpersonal, public speaking, and written and verbal communication skills. Must have ability to manage time effectively. Must have ability to act as a cultural role model. Must be able to work with people from diverse backgrounds. Must possess strong problem-solving skills, work ethic, organizational skills and attention to detail. Must have decision making skills and be able to work with others and work independently and be self-directed. Must possess good time management skills. Must be aware of and abide by HIPAA regulations related to patient care in the Health Division clinics. Must have knowledge and experience with conducting and leading sweat lodges, identifying and processing traditional medicines and overseeing ceremonies. Must maintain strict confidentiality. Native American preferred.