Mi'kmaq Indigenous Patient Navigator (Designated)

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 212355 
Department/Program: Equity and Belonging, Health Equity, Safety and Wellness 
Location: Halifax  (Hybrid)
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE) x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: November 2025
Union Status: Non-union, Management/Non Union Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $38.362 - $47.9524 /hour
Closing Date: Open until filled (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

This position is a designated position. The successful candidate must be from the designated Mi’kmaw group in order to be considered. They must self-identify as Mi’kmaw and be able to verify that they are a recognized member of the Mi’kmaq nation. 

When applying, please ensure your candidate profile and personal information is up to date, which includes any self-identification.

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

The Mi’kmaq Indigenous Patient Navigator (MIPN) honors Mi'kmaw and other Indigenous ways of knowing and being and those related teachings that guide the way. 

Central to this journey is nurturing a workplace that is culturally and linguistically safe; rooted in Mi’kmaw and other Indigenous values; that honours diversity and embraces inclusion; where all voices are respected, relationships are strengthened, and there is continuous growth through shared knowledge and community.

Honouring Mi'kmaw and other Indigenous ways of knowing and being, the MIPN carries the responsibility for access and in coordinating services for Mi'kmaw Indigenous patients and their families by arranging health care services (e.g. discharge planning), cultural/spiritual needs, and connecting with Mi’kmaw Indigenous health partners, and other community groups that provide services to Mi’kmaw and Indigenous people. 

The MIPN walks in relationship with families as they navigate the multitude of treatments, services, and potential barriers throughout their health care journey. This can include providing cultural interpretation and/or health literacy translation services; supporting patients referred to NSH/IWK programs and services; communication with physicians, nurses, and other frontline care staff; and guidance through system barriers and navigation challenges. 

Rooted in the core values of respect and reciprocity, the MIPN acts as a resource for Indigenous clients to access culturally safe and client centered care as well as for its home core team and department. 

The MIPN walks alongside teams to build and nurture relationships between Mi'kmaw Indigenous community health programs and partners; Nova Scotia Health (NSH), IWK Health, provincial health system partners; and services and community sites/clinics within the zone. 

Walking in relationship with Mi'kmaw and other Indigenous health leaders, the MIPN provides regular feedback and advice to senior leadership, for its home core team and department, zonal partners and other health system or department cultural consultants around improving access to appropriate care. 

Patient navigation is recognized as a key component of an integrated system and an effective way to improve the delivery of person-centred care and clinical efficiencies. The focus of the MIPN is to nurture health services that are culturally and linguistically safe by overcoming barriers to timely and culturally safe care, facilitate coordination of care, and enhance the delivery of high quality, culturally safe, trauma informed and person-centred care.

Hours of Work

75 hours bi-weekly. This position is permanent, full-time with a hybrid work environment along with onsite patient care.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a health related
• Registered or licensed with the appropriate licensing body/college
• Applicants must be from a First Nations community or background, preferred is Mi’Kmaw of Nova Scotia
• Strong experience working with Mi'kmaw/Indigenous communities, First Nation service delivery organizations and applicable government programming
• Strong understanding of the Mi’kmaw language (including spoken and written), culture, customs, and traditions
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with Mi'kmaw Indigenous (First Nations) communities and organizations (Atlantic Region Indigenous communities & culture)
• Experience or knowledge of the health care system and community-based resources within the zone
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and application of cultural safety and competency within healthcare
• Knowledge of federal/provincial health services specifically Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) administered by Indigenous Services Canada, First Nations Inuit Health Branch, and Jordan’s Principle
• Ability to use sound professional judgment, empathy, compassion, and integrity
• Must possess the ability to prioritize workload, keep accurate records and write reports, as necessary
• Experience adapting as the Indigenous care program evolves
• Ability to work independently and utilize strong time management skills to meet deadlines and accomplish objectives

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Management/Non Union  bargaining  unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.