Interpretive Guide

Role Responsibilities

The Indigenous Interpretive Guide helps visitors experience Head‑Smashed‑In Buffalo Jump—one of the world’s oldest and best‑preserved buffalo jumps, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—through the stories, perspectives, and living traditions of the Blackfoot people and other Plains First Nations. This role welcomes guests, leads them across the site, and shares knowledge about the land, history, culture, and significance of the Buffalo Jump in an engaging, accurate, and culturally respectful way.

Duties include leading guided tours and interpretive talks, delivering educational programs, offering cultural demonstrations such as storytelling, drumming, singing, or traditional games, and helping visitors explore exhibits, trails, and viewing areas. Interpretive Guides introduce theatre presentations, respond to inquiries with clarity and cultural awareness, adapt explanations for different audiences, and help ensure every visitor has a meaningful and respectful experience. Knowledge of Blackfoot, the local Indigenous language, is considered an asset, as it enriches interpretation and deepens visitor understanding.

In this role, you will demonstrate systems thinking by recognizing how your cultural knowledge, interpretive delivery, and visitor engagement support the mission of a World Heritage Site and deepen public understanding of Plains First Nations history and traditions.

Your agility will help you adjust to changing weather conditions, shifting group dynamics, unexpected visitor questions, and the active pace of seasonal programming.

Your ability to build collaborative environments is essential, as you will work closely with fellow guides, Visitor Services staff, you supervisor and site leadership to deliver consistent, high-quality experiences rooted in cultural integrity and respect.

Your creative problem solving will support you in responding to diverse visitor needs, adapting content on the spot, and finding thoughtful, culturally appropriate ways to share stories, teachings, and lived experiences connected to the Buffalo Jump and the Plains.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:

https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Systems Thinking – Recognizes how interpretive programs, cultural teachings, and visitor interactions support the site’s broader goals of education, stewardship, and cultural understanding.

Agility – Demonstrated ability to adjust to changing conditions, visitor volumes, group needs, and programming schedules while maintaining professionalism, cultural respect, and engaging delivery.

Creative Problem Solving – Uses cultural knowledge, sound judgment, and situational awareness to answer visitor questions, adapt interpretive content, and provide practical, respectful solutions to unexpected challenges.

Build Collaborative Environments – Works effectively with fellow guides, Visitor Services staff, supervisors and site leadership, and Elders to ensure consistent, high-quality experiences rooted in Indigenous perspectives and team support.

Develop Networks – Builds strong relationships with colleagues, cultural knowledge keepers, and community partners to support learning, accuracy, and respectful representation of Blackfoot and Plains First Nations history and traditions.

Drive for Results – Takes initiative to deliver engaging tours, maintain program quality, follow cultural protocols, and contribute to positive visitor experiences throughout the season.

Qualifications

A High School Diploma, or a GED/CAEC credential, is required for this position.

Post-secondary education in a related discipline is considered an asset.

Equivalency: One year of related work experience equals one year of post-secondary education.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards

Notes

The temporary wage position(s) are for the summer season, with anticipated start date of April 27, 2026, and continuing until September 2026 with the possibility of extension through the fall and winter.

The hours of work are 7.25 hours per day, 36.25 hours per week. These positions require availability for weekdays, weekends, evenings, and holidays.

A cover letter is required with your application. In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part time or full time.

The final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo references check and need to provide a suitable security screening.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.