Atlohsa Family Healing Services
Job Title: Healing Lodge Support Worker
Location: London & Fingal Ontario
Closing Date: OCtober 31, 2025
Employment Term: Permanent; Full-time
Salary: $25.00 per hour
Number of Openings: 2
About Atlohsa
Atlohsa Family Healing Services is an Indigenous led non-profit organization in Southwestern Ontario dedicated to empowering Indigenous communities through traditional and land-based healing practices. Since 1986, we have provided low-barrier, wraparound services to individuals and families facing complex challenges such as mental wellness, substance use, homelessness, and domestic violence. Our holistic wellness approach is rooted in the Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings and the Medicine Wheel Teachings, utilizing a Two-Eyed Seeing approach that emphasizes collaboration, mutual respect, and the recognition that both Indigenous and Western knowledge systems contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the world.
About the Program
Ndakiimnaan (an Anishinaabe word, meaning on the land) Healing Lodge is a land-based program intended to support First Nations, Inuit, and Metis individuals recover from addictions. This is achieved through land-based traditional Indigenous methods to heal from addictions and its effects and promote wholistic health and wellbeing. A motto commonly used amongst staff is “Spirit First,” acknowledging that the service we provide comes from the highest levels of care and that our conduct is one of firm respect for all community members, both staff and participants. Ndakiimnaan has a special focus on empowering families and a secondary focus on the prevention and healing from gender-based violence. Programming is designed to offer both day and residential addictions treatment for Indigenous peoples, fostering a nurturing environment where participants can engage with Indigenous cultural teachings and practices, access support from experienced staff, and develop skills that promote personal and communal wellness. By focusing on strategies that see and honour whole people in their spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical selves, Ndakiimnaan seeks to build and enhance the overall wellbeing of its participants, their families, communities, and nations.
About the Role
The Healing Lodge Support Worker, reporting to the Healing Lodge Program Manager, is responsible for implementing approved Indigenous program activities for participants, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements and organizational policies. This role employs a trauma-informed approach and integrates traditional Indigenous holistic practices, including ceremonies that utilize the four medicines and reflect the Seven Grandfather Teachings: Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, and Truth.
In this dynamic position, the Support Worker will facilitate an overnight on-the-land program, requiring strong outdoor and camping skills, safety awareness, and the capability to lead healing circles and smudging ceremonies. Responsibilities include completing essential documentation, collaborating with team members, maintaining participant safety, coordinating with healthcare providers, and managing daily tasks such as mealtime preparation and chore delegation. The successful candidate will also exercise good judgment, maintain confidentiality, and be available for travel as needed, while providing professional cultural understanding to effectively support participants on their healing journeys.
Suitability
- Social service worker, addictions worker, or other related degree
- Certification with ICBOC or CCPC is an asset
- Minimum 3 years experience in mental health counseling, group ceremony facilitation, or addictions treatment
- Experience working with Indigenous peoples who have been exposed to violence/abuse, homelessness, mental health challenges
- Consistent and reliable access to a vehicle in order to drive to the Lodge in Fingal
- Available to work mornings, afternoons and overnight
- Knowledge of the Indian Residential School system and the intergenerational trauma of Indigenous people of Canada.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of traditional holistic healing practices, languages, and cultures of the Indigenous population of the Southwestern Ontario region.
- Moderate to strong knowledge of colonialism, and the historical and ongoing impacts on Indigenous peoples
- Demonstrated strengths in interpersonal relations, problem-solving, crisis intervention, group dynamics, and trauma-informed approach
- Effective communication (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with others in a respectful manner as defined in the Atlohsa Code of Conduct
- Knowledge of the First Nation Mental Wellness Continuum Framework and the Native Wellness Assessment are assets
- Valid Ontario G-Class Driver’s License, First Aid and CPR certificate and Current Vulnerable Sector Check
- ICBOC certifications require three years of sobriety from substance misuse and abuse.
Consideration of Lived Experiences
While applicants are under no obligation to do so, Atlohsa welcomes applicants to indicate their own lived experiences of homelessness, substance use, and/or Indigenous community teachings within their application. Professional experiences, academic experiences, traditional teachings, and personal lived experiences are all valuable forms of knowledge.
Why Work for Atlohsa?
- We offer competitive pay and benefits:
- $25.00 to $32.00 per hour
- 100% employer provided benefits
- Employer-Employee contributory Pension plan
- We are committed to ensuring YOUR work-life balance and offer extensive paid time off:
- Three (3) weeks vacation, accessible in your first year of employment and increased entitlement based on years of service.
- Up to 12 paid sick days per year.
- Up to 12 paid self-development days per year
- We recognize 14 statutory holidays every year.
- We have a strong commitment to our cultural teachings and traditional knowledge practices, which encompass not just our programs but our daily interactions in the workplace, including:
- Regular opportunities for staff to engage in ceremonies and cultural gatherings.
- Access for staff to connect with Elders and Knowledge Keepers to foster active participation in cultural traditions.
We strive to inspire, empower, and instill a profound sense of pride and belonging within the community while promoting Mino Bimaadiziwin, The Good Way of Life.
How to Apply
If interested to apply for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@atlohsa.com with Healing Lodge Support Worker in your subject line.
Within the body of your email, please provide answers to the following questions:
Please briefly outline where your experience with or understanding of First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis communities comes from. You may note professional, academic, or your own personal lived/community experience.
Are you a First Nations, Inuk, or Métis applicant? If yes, please indicate which community you are from. If you are not connected to your community, just write what you know.
At Atlohsa, we value diversity in our workforce and encourage all qualified candidates to apply, however, due to the nature of our organization,preferences will be given to qualified Indigenous applicants.
Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources to make arrangements.
We thank all those who apply however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.