Health - Traditional Practitioner Assistant II

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Traditional Practitioner Assistant II, under the direction of the Traditional Practitioner Supervisor, is responsible for providing assistance to the Traditional Practitioners ensuring for the smooth operational capacity of the Traditional Medicine Program and for providing a wide variety of traditional medicine services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)

· Assists with researching, compiling, and developing a comprehensive plan of action that establishes and maintains a cultural program designed to integrate traditional medicine into the overall health delivery system of the Health Division.

· Assists in coordinating program and project planning and design efforts with other tribal services and programs providing and/or planning cultural programming.

· Assists, arranges, coordinates and conducts ongoing and regular in-service cultural training, workshops, and retreats for staff, clients and the public.

· Provides ceremonial services for clients when and where appropriate including, but not limited to, conducting sweat lodges.

· Conducts and assists in the preparation of ceremonial activities including feasts, offerings and fasts.

· Identifies, harvests and prepares traditional medicines keeping the traditional medicine pharmacy at all clinic sites stocked.

· Mentors and provides training to the Traditional Practitioner Assistant I (Intern).

· Assists Traditional Practitioner Assistants with the scheduling of appointments, reviews the Traditional Practitioner’s schedule and records and documents patient visits and reviews and updates all charting.

· Greets, escorts and instructs clients on protocols for visit.

· Performs drumming ceremony with Traditional Practitioner for individual patients.

· Fills traditional medicine prescriptions.

· Maintains program files.

· Assists with the development of materials and resources for use in the Traditional Medicine Program including Ojibwe language Material.

· Distributes checks and disbursement vouchers.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)

· All other job-related duties as assigned.

CONTACTS:

Immediate peers, peers in other departments, immediate supervisor/manager, managers in other departments, executives, Board of Directors, customers and outside vendors/service providers, Tribal programs and members of the community.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Position medium with team lifting of 50 pounds maximum and frequent lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds. Physical factors include frequent standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, driving, typing, bending; occasional pushing/pulling, crawling, reaching, manual handling, use of hearing, smell, near/midrange/far vision, depth perception and color/field of vision. Working conditions include frequent exposure to weather, extreme heat, wet/humidity, air quality, occasional exposure to extreme cold, noise and vibration. Potential hazards include constant client contact; frequent infectious exposure, computer, equipment use, occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts, high exposed places, chemicals, insecticides/pesticides and needles/syringes. Personal Protection Equipment provided to perform the functions of the position to include items such as safety goggles and gloves.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education: High School diploma or equivalent.

Experience: Minimum of 1 year of experience working with Anishinaabe plant medicines of the Great Lakes region and with traditional ceremonies required.

Certification/License: 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 undergo and successfully pass a background. check. Must maintain a good moral character standing. Will be required to complete and pass pre-employment drug testing.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of traditional plant harvesting and herbal medicines and herbal medicine preparation required. Knowledge of oral history, traditional Anishinaabe teachings and ceremonial practices required. Ability to demonstrate Anishinaabe language comprehension required. Must have public speaking skills. Must be able to work with minimal to no supervision. Must be able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, in a diverse range of audiences and settings. Must have excellent public relation/customer service skills and be able to exhibit a friendly and positive attitude. Must maintain confidentiality. Native American preferred.