Indigenous Initiatives Librarian

Posting number: JR0000082708

McGill University is committed to building relationships with Indigenous communities and individuals and advancing the ongoing work of truth and reconciliation. To that end, we are hiring an Indigenous Initiatives Librarian to join the McGill Libraries team and bring additional experience to a staff that already provide a number of Indigenous-focused services.

This position, for an individual with experience working with Indigenous communities or organizations, is offered with multiple options for the job portfolio; applicants should identify three to four areas of interest from the list of job duties below in their application materials.

Indigeneity in and around McGill and Montreal

McGill University is on unceded land which long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. McGill is located closest to the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation communities at Kahnawá:ke, Kanehsatà:ke and Akwesasne. The Kanien'kehá:ka Nation is a founding nation of the Haudenosaunee/People of the Longhouse (Iroquois) Confederacy.

The Hochelaga Monument on McGill’s Lower Campus Field commemorates the Iroquoian village of Hochelaga visited by Jacques Cartier in 1535, which was situated in the area around Mont Royal. The newly redeveloped Y-intersection (Tsi Non:we Onkwatonhnhets) nearby features a central pavement design of 13 works of art by Oneida artist Alanah Astehsi Otsistohkwa Jewell.

McGill University features a number of Indigenous programs, including an undergraduate Minor in Indigenous Studies and ad-hoc MA and PhD programs in Indigenous Language Revitalization, numerous research centres including a new Faculty of Arts Institute for Indigenous Research and Knowledges, the Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment on the Macdonald campus, and Indigenization of professional training as part of the Social Work, Education, Law, Nursing, and Medicine programs, and in Continuing Education. The Faculty of Education, through its Office of First Nations and Inuit Education (OFNIE), provides in-community teacher certificate programs, and the School of Social Work has recently expanded its Indigenous Access McGill program to include an online Bachelor of Social Work degree delivered in Cree. In addition, McGill is working to enrol and graduate more Indigenous students through the Indigenous Tuition and Housing Strategy programs. The Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), guided by its Onkwehón:we Advisory Council, is the central hub for Indigenous strategies and initiatives at McGill, including the First People’s House. McGill’s Indigenous programs and units all operate within the context of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the OCAP principles for Indigenous data sovereignty, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and McGill’s parallel 52 Calls to Action.

The McGill Libraries host a growing suite of Indigenous-focused collections. In addition to extensive primary materials documenting the fur trade from the colonizer’s perspective, we have collections of Indigenous language dictionaries and bibles, a selection of Northern newspapers, a strong circulating collection in 20th-century history of Indigenous peoples, an up-to-date selection of Indigenous children’s literature, a growing collection of Indigenous-authored memoirs and novels, and works by Indigenous artists in our Visual Arts Collection. The Libraries maintain an active partnership with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, periodically invite Indigenous speakers to deliver lectures, participate in cataloguing projects to make Indigenous materials more easily findable, and provide liaison services on Indigenous topics.

THE McGILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Located in Montréal, one of the world’s great multicultural and multilingual cities, McGill University is internationally recognized for its excellence as a leading institution of higher education and research. For nearly 200 years, through the work of dedicated people, McGill has been breaking ground in diverse fields and contributing solutions to some of the world’s most significant issues. McGill is also the most internationally diverse research-intensive university in Canada, with over 32% of its students coming to McGill from more than 150 countries. The University systematically appears on the annual list of the best employers in Montreal.

The McGill University Libraries contribute to society by advancing teaching, learning, and research in a supportive and welcoming environment. We anticipate and respond to the needs of users by providing outstanding collections, excellent services, and spaces that inspire. We work in collaboration with global scholarly and library communities to enhance and facilitate access to knowledge.

The McGill University Libraries has the largest collection in Quebec and is one of Canada’s largest academic libraries with over six million monograph titles and 150,000 e-journals and databases. The Libraries are a member of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Partenariat des bibliothèques universitaires du Québec (PBUQ), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), and the HathiTrust Digital Library.

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STAFF

Information about the University and the McGill University Libraries can be found on the University’s web site. The McGill Libraries have developed Strategic Priorities for 2025-2030 to guide its actions. As a tenure stream appointee, the successful candidate is expected to satisfy the requirements in the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Librarian Staff.

DUTY STATEMENT

The portfolio for this position will be selected from the following list. Candidates should identify three to four areas of interest from the list below in their application materials.

Part of the job interview will involve mutually exploring the selected areas of interest and meeting with stakeholders from those areas.

A more targeted job description will be developed to meet the strengths and interests of the candidate as discussed in the interview, with a written statement of job duties to be negotiated as part of the hiring offer. Reporting line will be dependent on the selected portfolio and will also be documented in the hiring offer.

Possible duties for inclusion in the job portfolio:

1. Collaborate with librarians supporting the schools of Social Work, Education, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Continuing Education to provide course instruction and collection development, as they pertain to the Indigenization of professional training.
2. Collaborate with librarians supporting faculties with Indigenous-related programs of study and research centres, such as the Indigenous Studies Minor, the ad-hoc MA and Ph.D. program, and the Institute for Indigenous Research and Knowledges, to provide research support, course instruction, and collection development on Indigenous topics.
3. In collaboration with other Libraries’ staff, develop projects and programming related to Indigenous peoples, languages, and cultures, to support Indigenous faculty, staff, students, and community members. Lead these efforts as assigned.
4. Participate in collaborative Indigenous event and exhibition planning, in conjunction with the Exhibition Program Committee and the Libraries’ Events Team. Lead these efforts as assigned.
5. Increase discoverability and access for library materials relating to Indigenous topics.
6. Provide guidance and leadership to Libraries’ staff to advance integration of Indigenous epistemologies, pedagogies, and ways of knowing into Library resources, polices, services, and spaces.
7. Maintain relationships with Indigenous members of the McGill, Montreal, and Quebec communities, include the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, the Onkwehón:we Advisory Council, First People’s House, and proximate Indigenous communities.
8. Chair or be a member of the Libraries' Indigenous Initiatives Committee.
9. Participate in ceremonial gatherings or cultural activities in community of origin or communities proximate to Montreal.

The following more general job duties also apply:

1. Maintain current awareness of emerging technologies and developments in the library, education, and information environments and develop possible responses.
2. Serve on various library, faculty and university committees. Represent the Libraries on university and external committees, as required.
3. Engage in scholarly activities and professional service and develop a dossier for promotion and tenure, consistent with University Regulations.
4. Advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility as well as reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through the McGill University Libraries' services and of the Libraries as a workplace.
5. The duties listed above are representative and not exhaustive; responsibilities may evolve in response to institutional and library needs.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Required:

• A Master’s degree in Library or Information Studies (MLIS, MIS or MI) or equivalent. Candidates who are scheduled to receive their qualifying degree by May 2027 will be considered.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities or organizations is required, with lived experience within a First Nations, Inuit, or Métis community a strong asset. Together, these experiences are vital to understanding the lived realities of Indigenous students and to fostering cultural safety within this position. Hiring will be subject to verification of Indigenous identity as described in McGill’s Policy on Indigenous Membership/Citizenship Validation.
• Cultural fluency with Indigenous world views, cultures, and values, and recognition of their distinctiveness.
• Knowledge, understanding, and/or experience of Indigenous scholarship, epistemologies, pedagogies, and ways of knowing in what is now called Canada.
• User-focused orientation in provision of library services.
• Sound information and communication technology skills.
• Excellent organizational, user service, and teamwork skills.
• High level of professionalism, a commitment to the organization and its mission, and the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment.
• Ability to understand and respond to priorities and trends in the Library and University environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility of services or work environment. Knowledge of the history of Indigenous communities in Canada, including residential schools, and commitment to reconciliation.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required. McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at level 3 on a scale of 1-4.

Desired:

• Professional experience serving library users in an academic setting.
• Familiarity with, or training in, OCAP, the First Nations Principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession.
• Oral and written abilities in French.

The McGill Libraries are committed to advancing open, equitable, and sustainable research practices and welcomes candidates who will contribute to these priorities.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applications should address the above selection criteria, be accompanied by:

• a letter of interest, identifying three to four areas of interest from the list of job duties
• a curriculum vitae,
• the names and addresses of three referees.

*** Applicants are encouraged to indicate any accommodation needs related to job duties.

To apply: Link to application

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND DIVERSITY

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, this email or phone at 514-398-2477.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.