Secretary Trustee - Mercury Care Home

Job Description: Secretary Trustee for the Mercury Care Home Trust May 29, 2025 Organization: Grassy Narrows First Nation - Mercury Care Home Trust Location: Remote/Hybrid (with occasional travel to Grassy Narrows, Ontario) Board Term: Minimum 3 years (renewable) Time Commitment: Part-time, variable hours (estimated up to 20 hrs/week initially) Compensation: Hourly, market-rate (contractor role) Grassy Narrows/Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek (“ANA”) First Nation is selecting a part-time Secretary Trustee for the Mercury Care Home Trust (the “Trust”), which will provide funding for the Grassy Narrows Mercury Care Home and Treatment Centre (the “Home”). The Secretary Trustee is a voting member of the Trust with fiduciary duties, responsible for supporting governance, financial oversight, and ensuring transparency. In addition to fulfilling secretarial roles, the Secretary Trustee helps make key decisions, resolve conflicts, and must have independence and expertise in trust management or other applicable expertise. The Home will be a specialized facility on reserve that will provide care and treatment for those community members who are or may be suffering from the effects of methylmercury poisoning. The facility will include 22 in-patient beds as well as treatment spaces for out-patients. It is anticipated that the facility will open in 2027. ANA is currently in the construction and planning phase of the Mercury Care Home pursuant to a Framework Agreement with Indigenous Services Canada (“ISC”). ANA and ISC have also negotiated a Contribution Agreement which provides for the Trust to hold the upfront funding for the services, operations, maintenance, and related costs of approximately $69 million. The Trust is expected to be fully established by September 22 of 2025. ANA Chief and Council are in the process of selecting the initial Trustees – four Community Trustees and the Secretary Trustee who will not be from the community.

Background of the Grassy Narrows Mercury Care Home Grassy Narrows First Nation is located in Northwestern Ontario, approximately 90 kilometres from Kenora, Ontario via Provincial Highway 671. The community is accessible year-round via Provincial Highway 671. The principal languages spoken are Anishinabemowin (Ojibwe) and English. Grassy Narrows First Nation has a registered population of approximately 1,600 (1,000 reside on reserve).

Between 1962 and 1975, the Reed Paper Mill released 10 tonnes of mercury- contaminated effluent into the English-Wabigoon River. This resulted in environmental pollution and the contamination of fish within the river system, a major food source for Grassy Narrows First Nation, which poisoned the people of Grassy Narrows. The effects of mercury contamination are still being felt in the community today. Given the ongoing

-2-

4834-4802-6595, v. 1

impacts of mercury poisoning, the Home is expected to provide services to the community for at least 30 years. As a result, the Trust is expected to last at least 30 years.

Responsibilities of the Secretary Trustee The Secretary Trustee is a new role which will be responsible for typical board secretary functions as well as sitting as a Trustee. Given the specific purpose of the Trust, there are additional responsibilities in terms of supporting compliance with the Trust Deed, establishing and adhering to practices and procedures, training of the Community Trustees and facilitating reporting on the Trust’s activities and other communications. The Secretary Trustee will also oversee the budget and many administrative needs of the Trust itself, and if the Community Trustees should be unable to act, the Secretary Trustee will be able and required to take steps to protect the Trust property. The Secretary Trustee is primarily responsible to the Trust which is independent from ANA. Chief and Council have the authority to dismiss the Secretary Trustee in limited circumstances. Key responsibilities will include carrying out the following:

Setting up Trust Education, Practices and Procedures

• Developing and implementing a trustee orientation, initial education and continuing education plan, and the early initiation of this plan to support Community Trustees in their roles.

• Overseeing the development and implementation of essential polices, practices and procedures, including the confirmation of said policies, etc with Chief and Council as required in the Trust Deed.

Management and Administration of the Trust

• Setting up and managing facilities, software and staffing as necessary for the operation of the Trust. This will involve facilitating decisions as to the nature of the “office” for the Trust. The “office” may be virtual.

• Preparing an annual budget for Trust operations, and associated reporting.

• Chairing meetings and facilitating minute-taking.

• Setting up and managing the proper long term and secure maintenance of all Trust records.

• Fostering a collegial, respectful small staff team and Board of Trustees, and a positive work environment.

• Supporting the development of agreements with any required external service providers.

• Co-ordinating the annual reporting process.

• Adhering to and meeting all requirements of the Trust Deed and as provided under the Framework Agreement and the Contribution Agreement, and any

-3-

4834-4802-6595, v. 1

subsequent agreements relevant to the Trust; supporting the Trustees as a group in adhering to such requirements.

• Adhering to all applicable laws and regulation

• Supporting the Trustees in the diligent review of proposals to the Trust for funding to support the Mercury Care Home and its governance

• Supporting the Trustees in obtaining qualified advice in areas of expertise relevant to their decision making

• Supporting the periodic review of the Trust’s Sufficiency to meet the needs of the community

• Supporting informing Grassy Narrows Chief and Council and the Grassy Narrows community at large about the activities of the Trust

• Support the free, fair, and timely election of the community Trustees Relationship building

Establishing and maintaining an effective professional relationship with the ANA Chief and Council and their relevant Teams, staff, the Home’s Executive Director and professional advisors.

For more information on the responsibilities of the Secretary Trustee please see the Trust Deed. Experience and requirements:

• A minimum completion of a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).

• Strong experience with governance from a Board perspective; experience with the governance of a Board of Trustees will be particularly relevant, but not required.

• Legal experience is an asset.

• Experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity.

• Experience managing budgets.

• Experience in contract negotiation and with developing policies, practices and procedures.

• Demonstrated leadership and communication (in English) skills.

• Understanding of the Grassy Narrows mercury crisis.

• Experience working with First Nations or similar relevant experience.

• Strong computer skills.

• Commitment of at least 3 years to the job is an asset.

• Capacity to travel to Grassy Narrows and other locations for meetings

• Strong inter-personal skills

• Strong conflict resolution skills

-4-

4834-4802-6595, v. 1

• Strong problem-solving skills Terms of Work: The work is hourly contract services on an as-needed basis at a market rate to be negotiated between Grassy Narrows and the selected Secretary Trustee It is anticipated that in the first year the work the workload will be higher (up to 20 hours per week on average), and then become lesser in future years as operations become more routine. The Secretary Trustee will be engaged as a contractor and will not be an employee of Grassy Narrows First Nation. How to Apply:

Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references (including current contact information) to: gnmercuryjustice@gmail.com You will be contacted if an interview is desired. Your references may be contacted. Deadline for Applications: August 11, 2025 Unsuccessful candidates may not be contacted.