Librarian and Coordinator for Indigenous Initiatives (Extended)
Vancouver Island University
- Nanaimo, BC
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Develops and sustains reciprocal relationships with Indigenous Elders, faculty, and community members who contribute to guiding library practice and strategy for respecting Indigenous knowledges and value systems; seeking to ensure that they feel welcomed, supported, and respected in any form of engagement with VIU Library, in ways consistent with community or cultural protocols.
- Provides careful, strategic perspective and leadership in respect to protecting and promoting engagement with Indigenous knowledges in ways that align with guiding principles and practices received in relationship to local Coast Salish Elders and community members.
- Advances strategy related to decolonizing library services in local and collaborative contexts, including but not limited to decolonizing descriptive practice.
- Advocates for culturally responsive stewardship and care for Indigenous knowledges and content related to Indigenous peoples by providing perspective and contributing to collaborative initiatives with respect to Library collections and Special Collections, and other areas of Library work from time to time.
- Promotes Indigenous language revitalization and use, particularly Coast Salish languages, in library online and physical spaces.
- Incorporates decolonization principles and critically informed approaches into teaching and learning to foster a deeper understanding and engagement with Indigenous perspectives and knowledges.
- Participates in a wide range of activities in support of students, including instruction, reference, liaison duties, and collections.
- Coordinates opportunities for staff and partners to develop cultural competencies, including with respect to Indigenous knowledges.
- Develops and coordinates experiential learning opportunities for students to engage respectfully with Indigenous information topics and practices.
- Liaises with assigned academic and support departments, including Services for Aboriginal Students, to enhance the value of the Library as a partner in teaching, research, and scholarship related to Indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation.
- Works with the Librarian and Strategic Lead for Collections on challenging assumptions of strategy and practice in traditional Library approaches to Collections to advance and support decolonial approaches.
- Collaborates with the Librarian and Coordinator for Copyright and Open Licensing to support members of the VIU community with considerations for Indigenous knowledges and cultural expressions in relation to information rights, and in collaboration with other experts on the team.
- Engages with and draws from professional and collegial networks to shape their practice.
- Participates in institutional committee meetings and other initiatives; grant-funded or collaborative projects; and professional activities in and outside the institution.
- Works collegially and in close collaboration with library faculty, decanal areas, university and cohort stakeholders and partners, internal and external to VIU.
- Demonstrated contextual knowledge, understanding, and experience of Indigenous scholarship, Indigenous information services, and Indigenous Peoples’ histories and cultures in what is now called Canada.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, and/or leadership in a professional context.
- Demonstrated collaborative leadership approach, with evidence of having fostered a team environment and mentorship of others in the work environment.
- Experience in planning and conducting library instruction for a wide range of students and scholars.
- Familiarity with key guidance for library collections in relation to decolonial practices; demonstrated record of connecting these with particular opportunities and challenges for practice in library organizations.
- Excellent communication skills including demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, in coordination with colleagues and using evidence-based approaches, with students, faculty, administrators, and staff, with external partners and community members.
- Familiarity with Indigenous communities, organizations, and leadership in a Coast Salish, Vancouver Island, and/or British Columbia context.
- Evidence of student and learning focus in planning and decision making.
- Knowledge of Coast Salish languages is an asset.
- Demonstrated ability to adjust priorities, take initiative, set goals, manage time wisely, and make quick, effective decisions in a fast-paced environment, while intentionally maintaining coordination and trust with a team.
- Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
- All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
- Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter. When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity. Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.