Indigenous Resource Development Consultant

Job Responsibility: 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Since 1980, the Saskatoon Open Door Society Inc. (“SODS”) has been a place to welcome and assist refugees and immigrants moving to Saskatoon. SODS is requesting proposals from qualified, individual consultants with respect to Indigenous education resource development that is based upon an effort to combat racism, promote events and education, and build a more anti-racist society, furthering SODS mission, vision, values, and in accordance with our Flourishing within our Community strategic priority and its outcomes:

• Mutually beneficial relationship with Indigenous communities based on the values of Truth and Reconciliation.
• Multi-sector partnerships with the business community and community at large that help newcomers achieve their potential.

Our mission is to assist newcomers to Canada to become participating members of an inclusive and diverse community and country, and our vision that Saskatoon is a diverse and inclusive community where newcomers fully participate in its economic, social, intellectual, and cultural life. SODS values empowerment, engagement, inclusion, respect, equity, and a holistic approach to its service delivery. SODS has diverse programs with ongoing funding provided by the federal government, the provincial government, and community granting organizations. SODS delivers services through five main programming areas: Settlement and Family Support Services, Settlement and Community Support Services, Language Training, Childcare Services and Employment Services. Other areas of operation within the organization include Finance, Facilities, Human Resources and Administration. SODS is managed by a Chief Executive Officer and seven Program Directors who oversee all programming including Human Resources and Finance functions. The Chief Executive Officer reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for ensuring the policies mandated by the Board of Directors and the strategic goals of the organization are carried out and for the day-to-day overall management of SODS employees, general office administration and overall program delivery. The Board of Directors is a governance board and is composed of twelve volunteer members of the organization who are elected at the Annual General Meeting. Each elected Director serves a two-year term for a maximum of six years. 2. PURPOSE OF THE RFP SODS is seeking an Indigenous education resource development consultant to collaborate with SODS staff, the SODS Indigenous Advisory Committee, Indigenous Organizations, Knowledge Keepers, and Elders. The consultant will focus on identifying the needs and interests of newcomers, exploring cultural parallels, and match them with the Indigenous and Métis communities in Saskatoon. The primary objective is to develop comprehensive training materials, including detailed lesson plans, to educate newcomers on Indigenous and Métis history, culture, and ceremonial practices. These materials will feature interactive presentations, videos, graphics, photos, and hands-on experiences. The goal is that the resources would help to promote meaningful connections, nurture positive race relationships between newcomers and local Indigenous communities, and misconceptions commonly found among newcomers related to Indigenous communities. The customized training materials will be developed by the consultant and in collaboration with SODS staff, and will be translated by SODS into different languages (e.g., Chinese, Persian, Ukrainian and Arabic languages) to increase its impact. The project will work towards identifying the unique needs, interests and matching cultural attributes and tie them with the history and culture of the indigenous communities such as newcomers' similar relations to land, impacts of colonization and matching cultural experiences from their countries of origin. 3. DELIVERABLES a) Initiate a project start-up meeting with SODS' Community Connection teams to discuss project objectives comprehensively. b) Develop and submit an inception report detailing implementation methodologies and any revisions to the timelines. c) Conduct an extensive desk review of available Indigenous education materials and cultural understanding sources. d) Assess newcomers' cultures, limitations, interests, and cultural attributes through individual and group interactions, documenting key meeting notes. e) Arrange meetings with Indigenous organizations (e.g., Reconciliation Saskatoon, CUMFI, Wanuskewin Heritage Park) and Elders to explore available education resources, gather input, and ensure authenticity. f) Engage with SODS staff and newcomers from diverse backgrounds to identify cultural attributes resonating with Indigenous and Métis culture in Saskatoon, enhancing newcomer interest in local Indigenous communities. g) Submit draft chapters/sections of training materials to SODS for review and feedback. h) Develop detailed, tailored Indigenous culture understanding/education learning materials with interactive, engaging, and hands-on elements, including videos, pictures, and graphics. i) Deliver two training sessions to newcomers in collaboration with SODS staff. j) Collect feedback on training materials from participants and SODS staff. k) Revise training materials based on feedback and submit the final version. l) Conduct periodic (weekly) in-person or online meetings with Community Connection and provide weekly progress reports in a simple bullet-point format. 4. TIMELINE OF DELIVERABLES

Deliverable

Timeline

Remarks

Project Start-up meeting

June 5

Submission of Inception report after the project start- meeting

June 15

In-depth study of the available resources, links, and materials relevant to project. Milestone: Submission of summary.

June 10 - July 10

In collaboration with SODS.

Milestone date: July 10

Conducting assessment of newcomers' cultural attributes, limitations, and interests to match the same with that of Indigenous and Metis communities.

June 24-July 31

In collaboration with SODS

Meeting with Indigenous organizations, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers

June 24-July 31

Customizing learning materials to newcomers and developing initial draft materials.

Milestone 1: Submission of 1st draft.

Milestone 2: Submission of revised draft, based on feedback.

August 1-

Sept 15

Milestone 1 date:

Aug 21

Milestone 2: Sept 15

Delivering two training sessions using developed materials as resources.

August- Sept

In collaboration with SODS

Revision of the resources and training materials. Milestone: Submission of final materials.

September 15

• Oct 31

In collaboration with SODS

Milestone date: Oct 31

Weekly check-in meetings, periodic updates and draft materials review

Every week

5. BUDGET AND PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS The budget for the contract is $25,000. SODS reserves the right to modify the timeline outlined below. Consultants/Consulting firms will be notified if changes are made to the schedule of events. Request for proposals issued: May 7, 2024 Proposals due: May 24, 2024 Decision deadline: May 31, 2024 Notification to all consultants/firms: June 3, 2024 Completion of deliverables: October 31, 2024 6. INQUIRIES AND CONTACT PERSON All inquiries regarding additional information and/or clarification in connection with the RFP for Indigenous Education Resource Developer should be directed to Anahit Falihi - View phone number on ca.edajobs.com 7. INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPONENTS Submit electronic copies of your proposal and any supporting documents indicating the RFP reference to the above contact no later than 5:00 p.m. CST May 24, 2024. 8. PROPOSAL FORMAT AND CONTENT REQUIREMENTS Interested consultants/firms should submit a proposal that includes the following details: a) Consultants/firms contact information; b) Relevant education, training, and experience: project management, developing engaging and interactive Indigenous resource development, and collaborating with individuals of diverse cultures, worldviews, and life experiences, awareness of digital learning resources on Indigenous educational platforms, etc.; c) Approach to Indigenous education resource development (including curriculum development, educational resource creation, or related fields); d) Fee information: (payment terms); e) The output of the resources developed and strategies (reports to be issued, etc.) - Detailed report of the deliverables; f) Timeline of components of the resource development; g) Two-three examples of similar past projects completed; h) Knowledge of the newcomer settlement sector and First Nations and/or Métis heritage, with strong knowledge and understanding of Indigenous history, cultures, and perspectives, particularly of First Nations and Métis and is an asset. 9. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS Proposals will be evaluated based on the following set of criteria: a) Compliance on preparing and submitting the proposal based on the instructions contained within this Request For Proposals; b) Level of experience and performance on comparable engagements; c) Strategy and process for meeting deliverables; d) Description of the resource development strategies and tools; e) Cost of the Indigenous education resource development deliverables. SODS RFP evaluation process may involve contacting the shortlisted consultants/firms to discuss their proposal. 10. RFP TERMS AND CONDITIONS a) Any information contained in your response, including inquiries, will be regarded as confidential and becomes the property of SODS; b) Any information pertaining to SODS obtained by the firm as a result of responding to the Request for Proposal is confidential and must not be disclosed except as authorized in writing by SODS; c) SODS has no responsibility for the cost of preparing proposals or making any related presentations