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Job Opportunity: Indigenous Caucus Director

Update: The deadline for application submissions has been extended to December 5th, 2024.

JOB OPPORTUNITY: INDIGENOUS CAUCUS DIRECTOR

This is a contract position to March 31, 2025, with a possibility of an extension for the subsequent fiscal year(s).

The Indigenous Caucus (the Caucus) of the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee for the Trans Mountain Project seeks a collaborative leader with an appreciation for the diversity of Indigenous perspectives on natural resource development, and the ability to identify strategic opportunities, communicate clearly, and build consensus to advance common goals and interests.

The Director will work closely with the Caucus, the communities impacted by the project, government/regulator partners on the Committee, and others to advance shared goals of safety, protection of the environment, and respect for Indigenous rights and interests on the Trans Mountain Expansion project (TMX) and existing pipeline.

WHO WE ARE

The Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee for the Trans Mountain Expansion and Existing Pipeline (IAMC-TMX or Committee) brings together Indigenous and federal government representatives to enhance monitoring of the pipeline(s) and provide advice to federal regulators. The IAMC consists of 19 members who have a shared goal for the safety and protection of the lands, waters, and other interests of Indigenous Peoples. We are:

  • 13 Indigenous people selected by Indigenous communities from the regions along the route of the Trans Mountain Expansion project. This is the Indigenous Caucus.
  • 6 senior Federal Government representatives.

To learn more about the IAMC-TMX, visit http://iamc-tmx.com/

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CAUCUS DIRECTOR

The Caucus Director is responsible for ensuring that Caucus delivers on its roles and responsibilities, as outlined in the Committee Terms of Reference and elsewhere, and to shape and implement the strategic direction set by the Caucus and which is guided by the priorities identified by the 129 impacted communities. The Caucus Director oversees and coordinates the workplan and budget to support the Indigenous Caucus.

Reporting directly to the Chair of the GAFSC, and responsible to the whole of Indigenous Caucus, the Caucus Director is charged with the effective and efficient management, coordination, implementation and reporting of activities associated with the Indigenous Caucus.

CORE COMPETENCIES OF THE DIRECTOR:

  • Provide advice to the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee to ensure it effectively fulfills its mandate and obligations
  • Oversee the efficient and effective operations of the Indigenous Caucus, including in areas of administration, finance, communication and engagement
  • Ensure fair, open sourcing processes to procure, on behalf of Indigenous Caucus, consulting, contractor and professional services, with a focus on Indigenous procurement and ensuring that sourcing processes are conducted in a responsible, accountable and ethical manner
  • Create a safe and healthy work environment and ensure compliance with all federal and provincial legislation and regulations
  • Develop and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with Indigenous community leaders, Elders, and other key stakeholders
  • Coordinate the development of a strategic plan with Indigenous Caucus, including objectives and key performance indicators for measuring progress
  • Oversee development of an annual operational plan in alignment with the strategic plan, inclusive of Indigenous Caucus and Subcommittee workplans and budgets
  • Collaborate with internal teams to integrate Indigenous engagement and considerations across all relevant business functions and operations, including implementation of culturally appropriate protocols, processes, and communication channels to enable meaningful dialogue and participation of Indigenous peoples
  • Review budgets and cash flows with a view to ensure outcomes are on track and collaborate with any finance partners to provide regular reports to Indigenous Caucus and main committee.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Communicate in an efficient and timely manner to the Indigenous Caucus and main committee regarding emerging financial issues that could impact the fiscal health of the initiative.
  • Provides input to the audit report development and takes action to implement and operationalize recommendations
  • Facilitate the orientation and training of incoming Indigenous Caucus members, to help them learn their roles and responsibilities, including as this concerns conflict of interest and dispute resolution
  • Oversee the development and implementation of the Committees agendas, briefing notes and other preparation for meetings based on the common priorities of the impacted communities.
  • Coordinate Committees meetings and discussions to drive consensus-building and decision-making
  • Lead the development of the IAMC-TMX Annual Report and Line Wide Report.
  • Minimum 5 years of experience in a leadership role, preferably in a community- based or non-profit organization
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience overseeing financial and fiscal management
  • Strong understanding of the priorities and challenges faced by Indigenous communities impacted by TMX
  • Excellent communication, facilitation, and consensus-building skills- Commitment to fulfilling the Indigenous Caucus’ mission, the interests of the main committee and the priorities of the 129 Indigenous communities
  • Ability to inspire and motivate others

EDUCATION:

  1. Completion of post-secondary education (bachelor’s level) in a relevant field or equivalent combination of experience and training acceptable to the Caucus.

OTHER:

  1. Ability and willingness to travel regularly within BC and Alberta.
  2. Preference may be given to Indigenous candidates

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested candidates are asked to express their interest to the Caucus. An expression of interest must include:

  • Application Letter. The letter should describe:
    • Your understanding of the IAMC-TMX, its goals, objectives and guiding principles;
    • Why you are interested in serving the Caucus; and
    • What you offer the Caucus, highlighting relevant experience, knowledge, and competencies.
  • Complete CV. The CV must include your past employment history and education or training.
  • Partner Experience, if applicable. If you work as part of a firm or with partners, provide a description of the experience and capacity of any other resources available to the Caucus via this relationship.
  • Disclosure of past work experience on TMX. You are asked to disclose past work experience (direct and indirect) on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project or existing pipeline with Kinder Morgan, Trans Mountain Corporation, and/or its contractors.
  • Compensation. Please outline your rates or expectations.

If you possess the necessary skills and experience and are passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of the impacted communities, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

Please send your expression of interest to info@iamc-tmx.com no later than December 5th, 2024. Thank you in advance for your interest.

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Community of Practice, March 2025 Lahal & Dancing Thank you to Tommy Brown for teaching us to play Lahal! We had several fun and exciting rounds of this traditional game. Cree Elder Ken White told us of variations on the rules which was a good reminder of the richness that occurs when we share culture embodying both commonality and uniqueness. Next was a cultural dance, which everyone enjoyed, accompanied by Tommy’s beautiful singing and drumming. It was great to wrap up our day of learning together in a good way.

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Wise Practices Gathering On March 13 & 14, 2025, the IAMC-TMX Socioeconomic Subcommittee (SESC) and Marine Shipping Subcommittee (MSSC) hosted a Wise Practices gathering in lək̓ʷəŋən territory (Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations). Wise Practices is an approach to change that understands the need to look back in order to move forward in a good way, recognizing the wisdom of Indigenous Nations and communities and their own stories of achieving success. The recent Wise Practices gathering was an opportunity to focus much-needed attention on the perspective of marine communities regarding the safety and security of Indigenous Women, Girls and Gender Diverse and Two-Spirit people in the context of TMX and other marine traffic. The event, attended by First Nation leaders, Elders and advocates, provided opportunities to learn about the work of the Circle on MMIWG2S+ and Resource Development, and to hear directly from communities regarding their concerns in the marine space. The event included a sharing circle and various cultural ceremonies, including to honour those who remain missing but are not forgotten. The SESC and MSSC understand that more needs to be done to identify and address systemic race- and gender-based violence linked to resource development. At the forefront of the Wise Practices gathering in lək̓ʷəŋən territory is the development and implementation of a plan related to Canada’s commitment to the five Calls for Justice focused on the resource sector (13.1-13.5), as identified in the United Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Action Plan (2023). This work will involve deepening an understanding of issues associated with human and sex trafficking in the marine space and strengthening collaboration with NRCan and relevant regulators. We sincerely thank all participants who joined us earlier this month and look forward to continuing to advance this work together moving forward.

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Community of Practice, March 2025 Decolonizing Master Guardian Designation Charlene Everson, Cultural Capacity Coordinator for Na̱nwaḵolas Council, shared with us her work developing a new and unique stewardship designation. Working with community knowledge keepers, Charlene studies and applies traditional laws and values as a lens to craft the technical, regulatory, and environmental frameworks of Na̲nwak̲olas’ guardianship efforts. Their precise focus on Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw culture yields specific and distinct guardianship approaches, tailored to meet the needs of Na̱nwaḵolas’ member nations. “We’re building beautiful relationships with the federal government. It’s not easy. Sometimes it’s very hard. But we’re doing it. Nobody is going to come up with an Indigenous research framework but us. Our ways. Our laws. ” -Charlene Everson

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IAMC is sponsoring Spill Response Due Diligence Training this Friday, March 28th, in Hope, BC. Eligible participants: ✔Communities along the TMX Date: Fri, March 28th Time: 9am – 5:30pm PDT Location: Hope, BC Contact: info@iamc.ca Course Description: Spill Response – Due Diligence is an applied, field-based course focusing on coastal, inland and freshwater applications and conditions and provides course participants with the skills, knowledge and abilities to confidently and effectively prevent and, if needed, respond to and manage a potential spill on a job site.

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Swiftwater Safety Awareness Online Training This self-paced online course is the first step in safety and rescue training for Indigenous Monitors near Swiftwater environments. It covers river dynamics, basic equipment needs, safety protocols, rescue applications, and more. Completion of this course is required before taking the Swiftwater Safety Rescue Courses. Eligible participants: ✔Indigenous Monitors Register by March 31, 2025, for this self-paced online course. Contact info@iamc.ca.

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Community of Practice Gathering Elders Lorraine White, Ken White, and Dolly Thomas shared their wisdom and experiences to help guide and inform the work of Indigenous Monitors and the IMSC. “You wonder why I’m talking about this. Like our experiences in Indian Residential Schools, the beating of the land does harm and makes it difficult to heal. We need to care about the land more than we care about the money... Being a Bear Watcher was both a gift and a responsibility. The animals, water, land, and plants feed, clothe, and shelter us and provide us with vital medicines. As monitors, this is now your opportunity to protect and care for our lands and waters.” Elder Dolly Thomas “That’s the way I lived. With ceremony and our language. It was a beautiful life... We were taught out there to honour the land. Ceremony cannot happen without the land. Aski. Land.” Elder Lorraine White “I worked on the pipeline for many years. We had to record all the plants and medicines that would be destroyed in a 50-meter span. Do we have enough in the rest of the country? At home we have medicines in abundance. We go out and pick as much as we need. Never pick too much.” Elder Ken White

March 10, 2025 We gathered on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) to discuss and celebrate the work of the IAMC Indigenous Monitoring Subcommittee and Indigenous Monitors. Activities included making connections, cultural teachings and experiences, and more! We shared knowledge, received updates on the IMSC's work, and networked. Special thanks go to our many cherished elders who participated for their thoughtful teachings and to IMSC co-chair Marin Whitney, Marcia Turner of Daxgedim Haanak’ Consulting, and Cando for planning and facilitating this wonderful event. “The M in IAMC was a big deal to the government. They had never done it before and realized they needed to figure out how and that they needed our help and participation.” -Raymond Cardinal Learn more about IAMC's Indigenous Monitoring program: https://www.iamc.ca/im-program/

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Blanketing Ceremony Our second day of the March 2025 committee meeting included a blanketing ceremony to honour Alice Cheung. Alice has served the IAMC-TMX as our federal Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) representative for many years, supporting the 129 communities along the TMX route. As she moves into another role, we wish her the very best and thank her for her time with us. Elder Ken White led the ceremony, which was witnessed by Elder Lorraine White, Ray Cardinal, and Chief Councillor Judi Thomas.

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The IAMC-TMX full committee met March 4-6, 2025, in Vancouver - territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Governance and building a governance framework for the committee and its ongoing success were important discussion topics. Policies, procedures, controls, roles, and responsibilities are all essential aspects of our work to strengthen the IAMC-TMX and support continued improvement and transformation. Chief Councillor Judi Thomas and Mieke Vander Valk from the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) are heading up the governance work. We are so grateful to everyone who took the time to attend and work together. Learn more: www.iamc-tmx.com

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