Visiting Elders Program
Sagamok AnishnawbekCanada
Posted May 15, 2025
Contract / Temporary
About the Company
Sagamok Anishnawbek, located on the north shore of Lake Huron, serves as a vibrant First Nations community that embodies the cultural heritage of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi peoples. With a membership of over 2,800 individuals—half residing on the reserve and the rest in urban areas—the community prioritizes cultural preservation, language revitalization, and intergenerational knowledge sharing. Sagamok’s identity as the “two points joining” reflects its role as a unifying hub for the Three Fires peoples, fostering diversity, prosperity, and sustainable growth. The community actively promotes its rich oral traditions, legends, and sacred worldview through educational programs, cultural events, and collaborative initiatives that strengthen both local and broader Indigenous networks.
Job Description
Sagamok Education is seeking compassionate and culturally rooted Visiting Elders to join our team and enrich the learning environment at Biidaaban Kinoomaagegamik and Shki Wasse Aaban Day Care. This role supports the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, culture, and language by connecting our youth with respected Elders who carry Anishinaabe wisdom and traditions.
Requirements
- Promote and model the use of Anishinaabemowin in daily interactions
- Serve as a surrogate Grandparent, providing emotional and cultural support
- Mentor and guide students and staff through traditional teachings and life experiences
- Strengthen relationships among the school, families, and the wider Sagamok community
- Share traditional knowledge through storytelling, crafts, cooking, sewing, and land-based learning
- Contribute to creating a safe, healthy, and positive learning environment
- Support classroom teachers by participating in daily school and daycare activities
- Encourage enthusiasm for Anishinaabe culture and language