Samson Cree Nation Nipisihkopakh Medical Clinic - Midwifery Program - Maskwacis, Alberta
The Nipisihkopakh Medical Clinic (NMC), located within the Samson Cree Nation, is a comprehensive primary health care team serving the Four Nations of Maskwacis. The Clinic serves a diverse and interconnected group of stakeholders, including the member First Nations of the Ermineskin Cree Nation, the Louis Bull Tribe, the Montana First Nation, and Samson Cree Nation.
The NMC delivers care through an interdisciplinary, culturally grounded, team-based model that is both evidence-informed and community-responsive. This integrated approach has demonstrated meaningful benefits in improving health outcomes while supporting holistic well-being. The Clinic brings together a broad spectrum of health professionals—including physicians, nurse practitioners, mental health clinicians, nutritionists, social workers, and allied health staff—who collaborate closely to address the complex, interrelated, and evolving health needs of the populations they serve.
Guided by Cree values and Indigenous ways of knowing, the NMC is firmly committed to the provision of culture-based, strength-based, community-centred, and quality-driven care. Its service philosophy emphasizes health promotion, disease prevention, and the optimization of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being at the levels of the individual, family, and community. Care delivery is intentionally designed to be culturally safe, relational, and responsive to local priorities and lived experience.
The NMC advances Indigenous-led primary health care through the following strategic objectives:
Expanding timely, equitable, and continuous access to comprehensive primary care services.
Strengthening coordination and integration among primary care, specialist, and community-based services to enhance continuity, safety, and quality of care.
Advancing health promotion, disease prevention, and proactive, longitudinal management of patients.
Leveraging interdisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive, culturally safe, and patient- and family-centred care.
Empowering patients, families, and caregivers through education, capacity-building, and shared decision-making that supports self-management and long-term wellness.
Through these priorities, the NMC exemplifies a leading model of holistic, Indigenous-governed primary care—one that integrates professional expertise with community partnership and cultural knowledge systems.
Program development at the NMC is currently guided by five priority initiatives:
Prevention and screening
Chronic disease management
Obstetrics
Pediatrics
Indigenous healing practices
These initiatives align closely with the strategic priorities of the Samson Cree Nation Health Commission, including access, quality, cultural safety, system integration, and the central role of Indigenous Peoples as active partners in health system design and delivery. Together with its patients and communities, the NMC maintains a shared commitment to prevention, the optimization of health, and the pursuit of wellness. The Clinic aspires to be a leader in primary health care through collaboration, innovation, and teamwork fostering healthier communities and a supported, fulfilled health care workforce.
Clinical Services
Delivering wholistic, midwifery services in a culturally appropriate manner, which reflects Samson Cree Nation’s culture, values, and traditions
Provide support to families during pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum period (six-weeks after birth) and possibly developing individual/family care plans
Provide well-woman and well-baby care up to one-year postpartum families with additional referrals for other supports as required
Provide health education and parental advise which includes but not limited to support in breastfeeding, nutrition, parenting skills and all aspects of women’s wellness during this time
Assist with any well child immunizations from ages 0-6 years
Begin to build a database of hospitals, other health care professionals that will support and streamline culturally safe referral pathways
Collaborate with internal and external services to develop and implement wrap-around support that is culturally informed, trauma informed and community driven
Work closely with other programs and NMC physicians, health care professional and staff to develop and implement mechanisms to ensure quality of care, effectiveness, efficiency and integration of traditional programs and services, and collaboration
Able to refer patients to obstetricians as needed
Thorough understanding of infection control procedures and standards of care for reproductive health
Mentoring community members or student midwives
Conduct pelvic exams for preventative care, to diagnose medical conditions or check the health of a baby
Diagnose medical conditions and order tests to make accurate diagnosis
Program Development
Help to:
Organize and implement community engagement sessions as required in a format directed the communities to provide feedback for the development of the program
Support and create best practices for an expanded midwifery model of care
Create flexible, mobile, and accessible supports through a system of referrals for community and home visits
Develop outreach and education services to support families to make informed choices around reproductive care
Develop supports for clients to navigate the health care system in a culturally safe way
Maintain and encourage ongoing networking with health and social community services partners
Support NMC multidisciplinary team members as a consultant when required, attend case conferences, home visits or phone consultations
Organizational Responsibilities
Reflecting and interpreting the NMC’s vision, mission and core values in their own work with enthusiasm and commitment
Acting in accordance with relevant legislation, regulation and NMC policies and procedures
Proposing changes within the NMC that would improve the quality of service to our First
Nations’ children, families and communities
Developing and maintaining respectful, cooperative working relationships to contribute to the delivery of services to First Nations’ children, families and communities
Understanding their role and responsibility in maintaining a safe workplace and reducing workplace injuries.
Ensuring accuracy, confidentiality and safekeeping of records
What We Offer
All Midwives will work independently as a part of a multidisciplinary team who reports individually and collectively to the NMC Clinic Lead
All Midwives will be supported with a shared Medical Office Assistant (MOA) and a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
The NMC is fully outfitted with large and accommodating assessment rooms and furniture, as well as contemporary and up-to-date equipment and supplies
The NMC is fully computerized and has an information technology professional to assist you where needed.
Midwives will be provided access to a highly secure and provincially recognized EMR system and have access to standardized templates to assist with accurate and concise documentation and secure information archiving
The NMC leadership team wants you to focus on what you do best – providing exceptional and comprehensive primary health care. Therefore, we offer a competitive salary and benefits package. Life balance is important to us, so we ensure you are supported both personally and professionally
Qualifications:
Candidates must be registered or eligible with the College of Midwives of Alberta.
Minimum of 2 years of midwifery experience.
Relevant experience working with Indigenous communities and populations that face socio-economic barriers.
Member of Alberta Association of Midwives Association.
Ability to work effectively with physicians, health care professionals, administration and staff, to maintain effective communication and working relationships, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills, tact, sensitivity and build strong internal relationships.
Ability to collect and analyze data, including familiarity with computer software.
Excellent organizational and planning skills.
Ability to display and support the NMC and Samson Cree Nation Health Commission’s vision, mission, and goals in providing respectful and effective primary health care.
Criminal Records Check (including Vulnerable sector).
Must be able to travel to the NMC and within the Maskwacis catchment area when required
The ability to maintain confidentiality.
Valid driver’s license with access to a vehicle and insurance to travel to highway accessible sites.
Specific Skills:
Desire to provide collaborative care as part of a multidisciplinary team
Examine patients and take their histories, order laboratory tests, X-rays, and other diagnostic procedures
Consult with other physicians and health care professionals to evaluate patients’ health
Prescribe and administer medications and treatments
Advise patients on health care
Report births, deaths, contagious and other diseases
Communicate health promotion/disease prevention to patients
Perform patient advocacy role
Manage patient care and actively collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team; and
Work to full scope of Midwifery practice as per the College of Midwives of Alberta
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Until suitable candidate(s) is found.
Please forward a copy of your resume and cover letter to Stew Schmidt stew@maaems.com
Please note: The NMC thanks all interested applicants in advance however only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview.
The Nipisihkopakh Medical Clinic is seeking and encouraging highly skilled candidates who reflect the diversity of Canadians to apply.