Health - Traditional Practitioner Assistant I

Job Description

Job Description

The Traditional Practitioner Assistant I under the direction of the Traditional Medicine Supervisor, provides assistance to the Traditional Practitioner and Traditional Practitioner Assistants II and III to assure for the smooth operational capacity of the Traditional Medicine Program and to provide a wide variety of traditional medicine services.

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

• Acquires knowledge and skills to assist in coordinating program and special event/outreach activities with other tribal services and programs providing and/or planning cultural programming, i.e. Warrior Camp Program, Tribal Member trainings on Traditional Ways of the Anishinaabe such as Winter Teachings and Story Telling.
• Works with the Traditional Practitioner Assistant II and III, to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to support all additional programs, services, i.e. Naming Ceremonies, Clan Identification and Colors, Dream Interpretation, Smudging and Drumming; and foundational knowledge and skills in multiple ceremonies and services.
• Participates and assists with ongoing and regular in-service cultural training, workshops, retreats for staff, clients and public.
• Participates and provides assistance with ceremonial services for clients when and where appropriate.
• Assists in the preparation of ceremonial activities including feasts, offerings, releasing, sweats and fasts.
• Obtains knowledge and skill set to assist in the traditional practices and offerings in the harvesting and preparation of traditional medicines, provides inventory, and keeps the traditional medicine pharmacy at all clinic sites clean and stocked.
• Assists Traditional Practitioner Assistants II and III as needed for reviewing schedules setting up appointments, greeting patients, escorting patients, instructing clients on protocols for visit, i.e. offering semaa to healer and learning how to set up the room for different types of appointments such as healer appointments and traditional ceremony appointments.
• Acquires the foundational knowledge of drumming during the healing ceremony component of the patient/client visit and how to perform that function when required.
• Assists Traditional Practitioners Assistants II and III with filling traditional medicine prescriptions, and refill orders as well as maintaining the files and performing patient checkout and any follow-up.
• Make appointments and schedules patient visits at the traditional clinics in the service area and assists with the clinic flow and with the flow of patients in outdoor activities.
• ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)
• All other job-related duties as assigned.

CONTACTS:

Immediate peers, peers in other department, 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 lifting of 50 pounds maximum and frequent lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds. Physical factors include frequent standing, walking, sitting, lifting, kneeling, bending; occasional pushing/pulling, climbing, stooping, crawling, reaching, manual handling, hearing, use of smell, color vision, travel, driving and typing. Working conditions include outside work in all seasons that include frequent exposure to weather, extreme heat, wet/humidity, frequent exposure to extreme cold, noise, vibration and air quality. Potential hazards include constant patient contact; frequent computer use; occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts, infectious exposure and equipment (cutting, grinding, digging) and medical equipment. Personal Protection Equipment includes masks, goggles, and other items needed to perform the functions of the position.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education: High School diploma or equivalent required.

Experience: None required.

Certification/License: 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: Basic knowledge of traditional Anishinaabe teachings and ceremonial practices and cultural traditions required. Knowledge of Anishinaabe language preferred. Ability to learn the Anishinaabe language required. Basic knowledge of herbal medicines and medicine preparation preferred. Ability to learn traditional medicine foundation and formulary preferred. Public speaking skills preferred. Must be able to work with minimal to no supervision. Must have excellent public relation/customer service skills and be able to exhibit a friendly and positive attitude. Must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Must be able to work extended hours when needed. Must be flexible and available to work various shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays. Must maintain confidentiality. Native American preferred.