Research Assistant, Indigenous Initiatives
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
In collaboration with the Program Manager of Indigenous Initiatives, the students will:
• Attend all training sessions and meetings, unless in direct conflict with a class.
• Help implement culturally relevant strategies under the direction of the Faculty’s Indigenous advisory council around research and curricula
• Participate in meetings with the Indigenous Initiatives curriculum advisory committee
• Assist with development of online content and programming as related to local and wider Indigenous knowledge, practices and methodologies;
• Participate and facilitate meetings with professors and professionals that are experts in the field of Indigenous land management
• Perform an environmental scan to review, assess and compile a repository of available resources and materials at UBC and outside of UBC for programs and curriculum with similar objectives in Indigenous forestry and conservation
• Perform literature reviews to support resource development
• Prepare curriculum resources that can be made available on various platforms: print, web, Canvas
• Assist with planning, coordinating and recording educational activities such as workshops, seminars, consultations, presentations and speaker series
• Help to reorganize files into an internal repository of institutional memory
• Other duties as required
SUPERVISION
These duties will be performed under the direction of the Program Manager, Indigenous Initiatives. The student will attend program staff meetings when they occur during the student’s work-hours, and will have regular one-to-one meetings with the Program Manager to discuss tasks, performance, learning objectives, challenges and successes.
COMPLEXITY OF TASKS
Tasks require time management and organizational skills, in particular the ability to effectively use the Microsoft Office Suite (e.g. Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel) at an intermediate level. The student will be able to work effectively and cooperatively with a variety of faculty and community members involved with the Indigenous Initiatives
curriculum committee and the First Nations Council of Advisors. Cultural competency and community relationship building skills will be developed as the student is involved in contacting Indigenous communities by phone and/or email, and maintaining relations while respecting community protocols.
GOALS OF UNIT
For over 20 years, the Faculty has been developing and implementing its Indigenous Strategy.
The Indigenous Forestry initiative is a core program for the Faculty of Forestry’s commitment to expanding opportunities for all students to learn about Indigenous issues, perspectives and cultures. The student will assist with the development of a repository and curriculum resources for all faculty instructors to incorporate into their syllabi. Specifically, this position fills the Faculty of Forestry’s strategic vision to 1) Ensure that students are knowledgeable about the rights of Indigenous peoples; 2) Ensure that students develop consultation/negotiation/dispute resolution skills and leadership abilities, and 3) Ensure that our curricula and research accurately represent and include Indigenous cultures, histories, and systems of knowledge. The work learn student’s role is directly related to not only the unit goals, but also to UBC’s campus wide Indigenous engagement strategy.
Qualifications
SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE
Strong organization and prioritization skills and ability to manage workload
Demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively
Proficiency with office software applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) as well as databases
Demonstrated experience with online and blended formats and other educational technologies
Ability to update repository and source document worksheets
Ability to conduct literature reviews and develop associated documents
Experience with decolonizing, Indigenization and reconciliation programming, or strong willingness to learn
Demonstrated capacity for self-reflection, and awareness of colonial history and the impacts of colonization
Ability to provide clear, concise and complete verbal and written information at a level appropriate to the audience;
General knowledge of the University’s mission, purpose and goals, and the role this position plays in achieving those goals
EDUCATION LEVEL
• A current UBC student, either senior undergraduate (3rd /4th year) or graduate
FIT
• A strong interest and knowledge in the topic of working with Indigenous peoples, including Indigenous communities from around the world
• Solid knowledge of Indigenous cultures. Experience working with Indigenous peoples and communities is a strong asset
Student Learning Components
ORIENTATION & TRAINING
The student will receive an orientation meeting where they will learn about the Faculty’s Indigenous initiatives and strategic plan. The orientation will include an overview of key tasks and responsibilities of the position with the supervisor and introduction to staff in the Dean’s office and faculty members.
FEEDBACK AND SUPPORT
The student will receive ongoing feedback as they will usually be working alongside the Program Manger and other members of the Faculty’s Indigenous Initiatives team. The student will have the opportunity for continuous learning and growth through guided goal setting and self-reflection exercises each term. Feedback will take the form of discussions, longer debriefs as appropriate, and scheduled meetings.
MENTORSHIP
The student will have regular one-to-one meetings with the Program Manager to set goals and learning objectives, discuss tasks, performance, challenges and successes. The student will have the opportunity to work alongside professional staff in the Faculty’s Student Services and Indigenous Initiatives teams. The student will have the opportunity to join the Indigenous Initiatives advisory team, which is comprised of faculty members, post-doctoral researchers, and Forestry students (PhD, Master and Undergraduate).
SUPPORT/REFLECTION
The student will participate in regular team sessions which debrief the challenges and successes of helping culturally relevant strategies around research and curricula. The student will be included in the team culture of mutual support, open communication and shared problem solving. The student will be given the lead on specific projects and tasks as appropriate. Their achievements and efforts will be acknowledged on an ongoing basis.
RELATION TO CLASSROOM LEARNING
Students in Forestry, Science/Environment/Agriculture, Education, Political Science, and First Nations and Indigenous Studies will have the opportunity to research and develop materials related to the historical and legal complexity attendant on Indigenous forestry and conservation practices in local, national and international settings. This includes Indigenous relationships with their customary and ancestral territories and the cultural and spiritual values that have persisted and evolved over the centuries; examples of co-management with government or non-indigenous or industrial partners for a range of outcomes; community consultation and dispute resolution skills that reflect the political and socio-economic contexts of forestry practice, and the safeguards for Indigenous forestry practices at sub-national (provincial or state), national and international levels.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
The student will have opportunities to collaborate and co-generate knowledge with fellow students, and with members of the Faculty’s First Nation Council of Advisors (comprising of professionals in their chosen field from external natural resources organizations and Indigenous communities). The student will further develop research and reporting skills by working with faculty members from the Indigenous Initiatives curriculum committee. They will develop facilitation, coordination and oral presentation skills by assisting with all Indigenous Initiatives activities, particularly around workshops, seminars, consultations, presentations and speaker series.
Hours per Week: 20
Total Hours: 300
Salary / Wage: $24.73/hr
Number of Positions Available: 2
Preferred Degrees/Disciplines
Environmental Sciences, Education, Library, Archival and Information Studies, Political Science, First Nations and Indigenous Studies
Additional Documents (preferred)
Cover Letter, Class Schedule
Apply on the UBC Careers Online Website through Work Learn Jobs
Deadline: March 19th