Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Indigenous Language Revitalization and Reclamation

Situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking xʷməθkʷəy̓em (Musqueam people), the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver invites applications for a:

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Indigenous Language Revitalization and Reclamation

We invite candidates with a primary specialization in Indigenous language revitalization and reclamation to join First Nations and Endangered Languages (FNEL), which together with First Nations and Indigenous Studies and the Musqueam Language Program constitute the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies (CIS). The successful candidate will extend our existing strengths in research, teaching, and community collaboration in the interdisciplinary work of language reclamation. This position is expected to commence as early as July 1, 2023.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

Candidates should have a doctorate (PhD) in a relevant discipline, including but not limited to Education, Indigenous Language Revitalization, Native/Indigenous Studies, Anthropology or Linguistics, by the start date of this appointment, with proven experience to embed Indigenous language revitalization practices in teaching, learning, and research. We welcome applications from candidates who are defending their dissertation during the time of the search. 

We particularly welcome candidates with experience working with phonetics, phonology and orthographies of Indigenous languages with an interest in the pedagogy of sounds and sound systems of Indigenous languages and/or expertise in community-focused archival methodologies and approaches to data management.

The ideal applicant will (a) have a strong record of Indigenous community-engaged scholarship and research in advancing Indigenous language documentation and revitalization; (b) demonstrate excellence or potential for excellence in advancing research and scholarship that contributes to advancing priorities that Indigenous communities have for their language(s) at local, state/provincial, national, and/or international levels; (c) have evidence of sustained engagement with Indigenous methodologies, knowledges, and research ethics; and (d) have culturally grounded and/or lived experiences in an Indigenous community.

We seek applicants with a record of demonstrated research impact, as well as potential to publish, teach effectively, and secure external research funding. We acknowledge that within higher education in Canada, traditional or conventional academic pathways can reinforce biases in the filling of faculty posts. We encourage applications that may not fit this mold and challenge our ideas of teaching, scholarship and research.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

We seek a candidate who will complement existing strengths and research interests in language revitalization and reclamation methodologies as well as theoretical considerations of Critical Indigenous Studies with expertise in pedagogical approaches to sound systems of Indigenous languages and the phonetics and phonology of Indigenous languages, and/or expertise in community-focused archival methodologies and approaches to data management. The successful candidate is expected to (a) teach in the undergraduate program coordinated by the Institute; (b) be engaged in sustained and productive scholarly activity, and (c) contribute to scholarly and partner communities and service work of the FNEL, CIS, and the University. The annual workload for this position is 4 courses (12 credits) or equivalent.

This position fulfills a growing area of need in response to the University, Faculty, Institute, and Indigenous strategic priorities, the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, Bill 41-2019 (Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act), Bill C-91 (Indigenous Languages Act), as well as the United Nations declaration of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages beginning in 2022.

This is a tenure-track position in the research Professoriate Stream, to be reviewed for reappointment and promotion in subsequent years in accordance with the UBC Collective Agreement. For more information on the review process and criteria for promotion in this stream, please visit: www.hr.ubc.ca/faculty-relations/collective-agreements/appointment-faculty/. This position is subject to final budgetary approval. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

THE INSTITUTE FOR CRITICAL INDIGENOUS STUDIES:

CIS is a vibrant, multidisciplinary group of outstanding researchers and instructors committed to excellence in Indigenous-centred scholarship, teaching, community engagement, and professional leadership.  Institute members engage in research collaborations with Indigenous educational communities at the local, national, and international levels to advance theoretical understandings, practical knowledge, and the study of language documentation and revitalization as well as learning of languages, pedagogies, literatures and cultures in their broadest sense. A major emphasis of FNEL and the Institute is on issues of equity and justice in a range of educational contexts and across a range of cultures.

CIS, FNEL, and UBC’s Point Grey Campus are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking Musqueam people, and our long-standing relationship with the Musqueam Nation is of core importance to our academic mission.

THE UNIVERSITY AND THE FACULTY OF ARTS:

The University of British Columbia is located in beautiful Vancouver, a multicultural, multilingual city ranked as one of the world’s best places to live. The University is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university. Truly unique in its scope, UBC Arts is a dynamic and thriving community of outstanding scholars — both faculty and students.

APPLICATION MATERIALS:

Applicants should send a:

• Cover letter (no more than 2 single-spaced pages)
• Curriculum vitae Research statement (1 page) Teaching philosophy and mentoring experience (1 page) Indigenous community engagement statement (1 page) 2-3 samples of recently published work or articles/chapters that are under review that are most relevant to their scholarly activities Evidence of teaching effectiveness (such as course outlines and student evaluations) Statement about your experiences working with a diverse student body and your contributions or potential contributions to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion (1 page) Names of three referees

All applications must be submitted electronically via this form: https://icis.air.arts.ubc.ca/?p=1694  

Deadline to apply is October 2, 2022. Review of applications will begin in early October 2022, and will continue until the position is filled.

Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Bernard Perley, Search Committee Chair, FNEL/CIS (bernard.perley[at]ubc.ca).

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY & DIVERSITY:

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. Preference will also be given to Indigenous candidates as permitted by Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code. Candidates requesting preferential consideration may be required to prove eligibility for this consideration.