Assistant Professor in Indigenous Epistemologies

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 and 6.

Position Description

The Faculty of Arts (School of Creative and Performing Arts, Departments of Political Science, English, and Art and Art History) in collaboration with the Faculty of Science, invites applications for a tenure-track transdisciplinary position with a focus on Indigenous Epistemologies, at the rank of Assistant Professor, to begin 1 July 2024. As part of the broader University of Calgary transdisciplinary recruitment program, 20 academic positions have been created to build capacity and provide leadership in support of the Ahead of Tomorrow strategic plan. The successful candidate will be provided a five-year research-intensive term with reduced teaching commitments.

The University of Calgary (UCalgary), located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and recognizes the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations) as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6). The University of Calgary is situated on land Northwest of where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. On this land and in this place, we strive to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”

In the spring of 2016, UCalgary set out to create an Indigenous Strategy through a parallel path guided by a four-stage journey framework that included ‘gathering stories’ from the campus community, Indigenous communities, local agencies, and community partners. Grounded by concepts of transformation, renewal, and shared ethical space, the UCalgary Indigenous Strategy (ii’taa’poh’to’p) was launched in November 2017. The Indigenous Strategy continues to guide, shape, and inform UCalgary’s journey towards reconciliation through education, communicating our collective responsibility for truth and reconciliation.

Position Description

The knowledge translation practices of Indigenous cultures in Canada are inherently transdisciplinary. Indigenous knowledge practices bypass and interrogate the western knowledge systems and boundaries between history, science, philosophy, art, story, and medicine. Indigenous knowledge systems provide a sophisticated and effective transdisciplinary model for teaching, learning, research, and community engagement. This position, located at the intersection of multiple disciplines, embraces and embodies this reality. We recognize that Indigenous research and creation modalities are predominantly practice-based, relational and participatory, and embedded within community contexts, allowing both a central focus on research inquiry and an equally central mode of communal and critical engagement. Cross appointments with the Faculty of Science are possible depending on the background and interests of the candidate.

We are seeking an Indigenous artist-researcher whose work encompasses performance as well as oral and text-based creation, to join an accomplished cohort of Indigenous researchers residing in the Faculty of Arts. This position will become part of a community of Indigenous scholars at UCalgary affiliated with the wide range of disciplines, teaching courses in Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Indigenous Arts practices, Indigenous Literatures, Indigenous Law, and Indigenous Sciences, among others. The Faculty of Arts is also home to International Indigenous Studies program (https://arts.ucalgary.ca/international-indigenous-studies ). The proposed position will expand and enhance a wide range of transdisciplinary scholarship at UCalgary and offer promising opportunities for collaboration with scholars and units both inside and outside the Faculty of Arts. The position also reflects the Faculty’s and the University’s commitment to interrogate and negotiate processes of decolonization in western artistic, scientific, and political paradigms, in order to further indigenize the academy. 

Position Requirements

This position is part of UCalgary’s Transdisciplinary Recruitment program. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to Indigenous knowledges, approaches and histories, and a record of engagement and/or lived experience with Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. Familiarity with Treaty 7 nations and the Métis Nation of Alberta will be considered an asset. Applicants are normally expected to have a terminal degree (PhD or MFA); however, substantial professional and/or community-based expertise and experience will also be considered in the assessment process. The successful candidate should have scholarly experience related to Indigenous perspectives and communities, and preference will be given to those with a strong record of teaching and working at postsecondary institutions.

As this is a research-intensive position, the successful candidate will show evidence of engagement in or promise of original research in fields relevant to Indigenous epistemologies, research-creation, and creative practices, especially as these relate to Indigenous perspectives, research, teaching, and ways of knowing.

In addition to the primary emphasis on research-creation, the successful candidate will also have reduced teaching responsibilities to be shared between the participating academic units as best suited to the candidate’s profile, research interests, and evolving instructional needs. Inter- and transdisciplinary graduate programs at UCalgary will also provide a natural context for supervision of MA and PhD students whose work does not readily fit into traditional, single-discipline, Western ways of knowing programs. The candidate will thus join an existing body of inter- and transdisciplinary researchers and initiate a new, highly innovative set of potential collaborations. 

While all candidates who meet the position requirements are encouraged to apply, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the ‘Apply Now’ link. Only complete applications will be considered by the search committee. Please note that the application process allows for only four attachments, which may require you to merge documents. A complete application includes:

• A curriculum vitae
• A letter of interest that speaks directly to experiences related to the position requirements highlighted above. Applicants must self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations [Status, Non-Status], Métis, or Inuit) within the letter of interest.
• A brief teaching philosophy/statement
• Statement outlining research, creative, and/or leadership experience, including collaboration/engagement with professional and/or community-based organizations.
• Documentation of two (2) creative projects, research publications, and/or other representative work.

Names and contact information for three referees should be addressed to:
Dr. Aoife Mac Namara, Dean
Faculty of Arts
University of Calgary

Application deadline: February 7, 2024

Questions regarding this opportunity should be addressed to Dr. Aoife Mac Namara, Dean, by email ([email protected] ).

UCalgary has has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy  and committed to inclusive excellence, to creating a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive academy. In accordance with Section 10.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act this position is only open to qualified Indigenous scholars (First Nations (Status, Non-Status), Métis, or Inuit). Candidates will be required to provide verifiable evidence of their Indigenous identity.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected] ) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected] ).

The University of Calgary’s comprehensive benefits and pension program is designed to promote a productive level of health and well-being to staff members through coverage for health, dental, life insurance, income protection for disability, and retirement income planning. To learn about our comprehensive benefits package please visit: http://www.ucalgary.ca/hr/academic_benefits_pension

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)

Additional Information

To learn more about academic opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Academic Careers website . For more information visit Careers in the Faculty of Arts .

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups . Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca .
About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world’s cleanest cities and has been named one of the world’s most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.