Animating Mi’kmaw Humanities in Atlantic Canada
Graduate Student Opportunity
Seeking two motivated graduate students to help collect Mi’kmaw related bibliographies as content
for a Mi’kmaw Resource Website on the Mi’kmaw humanities. This project entitled Animating the
Mi’kmaq Humanities, with partnerships with the University of Saskatchewan; the Mi’kmaw
Kina’matnewey in Membertou, Nova Scotia; the Unama’ki College at Cape Breton University;
Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi at St. Anne’s School in Conne River, Newfoundland; the College
of Continuing Education at Dalhousie University; the Mi’kmaq Maliseet Bachelor of Social Work
Programme at St. Thomas University; and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, aims to bring
awareness to the Mi’kmaw humanities in Atlantic Canada from Mi’kmaw traditions, thought,
creativity, and experience. It includes both the traditional aspects of Mi’kmaw humanity as well as
innovative aspects of Mi’kmaw modernity that synthesize traditional teaching with new
manifestations of contemporary life and scholarship.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Students will be supervised by team of members from the partners of the project and the
principal investigator of the SSHRC project. Research responsibilities will include, but not limited
to, the following activities:
Conduct archival and library and on-line researches of Mi’kmaw related academic
and non-academic texts, journals, on-line books, pictorial representations of
Mi’kmaq art, films, performances, etc. that capture historic and contemporary
Mi’kmaq humanities, literature, history, art, music, dance, worldview, spirituality,
and knowledge.
ii. Prepare annotations that identify for on-line viewers what the material is, who the
authors are, who the material is targeted to as audience, and other clarifying
information that could assist researchers or students looking for research material.
iii. Collaborate with the partners and advisory committee in identifying further areas of
needed research.
iv. Prepare monthly report of activities, insights from reading and researching, and
assessments of the reading material.
i.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Desired Skills:
i. High personal motivation, self-management, and detail-orientation; ability to take
responsibility in meeting deadlines and making progress;
ii. Strong spoken and written communications skills;
iii. Motivation to engage in and manage a wide range of academic reading material;
iv. Interest in professional development toward continued graduate studies,
employment in advanced social research or education;
Working as a team of students congenially and supportively, and sharing in
responsibilities and rewards;
vi. Knowledge and interest in Aboriginal histories and cultures and education;
vii. Knowledge and experience in conducting ethical and culturally appropriate
research with Aboriginal communities;
viii. Access to a computer for extended periods of time;
ix. Excellent computer skills;
x. Excellent organizational skills;
xi. Training in research methodology desireable, but not required; and
xii. Continuing university status at an Atlantic university at the graduate level preferred,
but senior undergraduate student with high level of skills in researching data bases
may be accepted.
xiii. Ready, willing and able to work at variable hours;
v.
Student rates related to university status as graduate or senior undergraduate student will be
applied. Graduate rate is $17.71 per hour. Undergraduate student rate is $12.47 per hour. This is a
term position for 8 weeks, with hours varying from 30 to 40 hours per week. There is a possibility
of extension throughout the academic year in a part time capacity (5 - 8 hours per week) based on
satisfactory performance.
Preference will be given to students who are working in compatible research level projects and/or
where other qualifications are satisfied. Please forward your letter of interest, a resume, and a
writing sample demonstrating work at the graduate level by no later than June 20th, 2012 to the
following:
Only electronic applications will be accepted
E-Mail: marie.battiste@usask.ca
.