Job Description

The Manitoba Museum, a not-for-profit institution, is Manitoba's largest heritage centre and number one paid tourist attraction with over 300,000 on-site visitors annually, including 80,000 students. We uniquely combine human and natural history themes, multidimensional interpretation, science, and astronomy education with quality school and community programs, special events and exhibits. We are pleased to announce a Curator of Indigenous Collections opportunity in our Research, Collections & Exhibitions Division.

Reporting to the Director of Research, Collections, and Exhibitions (RCE), the Curator of Indigenous Collections is responsible for the Indigenous belongings within two large ethnographic collections: The Anthropology Collection and the HBC Museum Collection. The non-Indigenous artifacts within the latter collection are under the purview of the Director of Research, Collections and Exhibitions & Chief Curator to provide in-house HBC expertise.

The successful candidate will have significant knowledge of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit cultural history within Canada, with an emphasis on Nations within Manitoba, and with specialized knowledge in areas such as colonialism, Indigenization, and decolonization. And also demonstrated knowledge and sensitivities surrounding Indigenous belongings and an understanding of their importance within the cultural practices of contemporary Indigenous communities.

In keeping with the goals of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), only applicants self-identifying as First Nations, Inuit, and Metis will be considered for this position. Indigenous community experience within Manitoba would be an asset.

1. GENERAL

Reporting to the Director of Research, Collections, and Exhibitions (RCE), the Curator of Indigenous Collections is responsible for the Indigenous belongings within two large ethnographic collections: The Anthropology Collection and the HBC Museum Collection. The non-Indigenous artifacts within the latter collection are under the purview of the Director of RCE to provide in-house HBC expertise.

Indigenous Collections Overview

The Anthropology collection houses over 17,000 belongings consisting primarily of North American material, but also a smaller global Indigenous collection. This area of study, and collection, has a significant focus on First Nations, Inuit, and Metis culture and history within Manitoba. Temporally, it includes belongings from the early 19th century through to the present-day, and would include the expertise and interpretation of Treaties, the reserve system, Indian Residential Schools, and the complexities of colonial relationships that evolved since Confederation.

The HBC Museum Collection has nearly 28,000 artifacts and belongings, two-thirds of which are of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis origin and would be part of the Curator of Indigenous Collections portfolio. These belongings cover a much broader geographic scope, from coast-to-coast-to-coast, aligning with HBC's expansive presence in what we now call Canada. Temporally, these range from late 19th century to mid-late 20th century.

Job Profile

The Curator of Indigenous Collections serves as the expert in-house cultural historian, knowledge facilitator, and spokesperson for the Indigenous Collections, and is involved in guiding and engaging in museum decolonization and reconciliation activities. Guided by institutional policies, procedures, strategic objectives, and annual goals, the Curator develops their own research program while facilitating access for external researchers. They collaborate closely with the Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement on collections access visits for community members and artists, internal programming and tours, and external outreach. The Curator develops the collections by responding to donation offers and works with Collections & Conservation staff on collections management decisions. They also work closely with the larger curatorial and exhibition team to contribute to exhibition development in the Museum's galleries, including exploring opportunities for co-curation with external partners. They are responsible for responding to public inquiries, participating in media interviews, and supporting broader internal programs and fundraising initiatives.

The Curator promotes Indigenous heritage and contemporary culture, seeking to raise the profile of these collections. They will maintain excellent and ongoing working relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations. They strengthen existing, and explore new, partnerships with various levels of government, as well as community-based cultural, economic and political organizations and appropriate individuals.

Criminal record and child abuse registry checks will be required of the successful candidate.

2. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES & TYPICAL DUTIES

Priority 1: Collections

To develop and preserve the Indigenous Collections, enabling the comprehensive and collaborative representation of Indigenous history throughout the galleries, and to facilitate scholarly research into the collections in a manner consistent with institutional directives and professional standards.

i. Develops and maintains a strategic 3-year rolling Research & Collecting plan.

ii. Identifies and recommends new acquisitions, de-accessions, as well as incoming and outgoing loans.

iii. Assists Director of RCE with repatriation requests, as needed.

iv. Oversees identification and assists with documentation of belongings.

Priority 2: Research

To seek and acquire new knowledge through primary research in fields relating to the culture, history and contemporary issues of Indigenous peoples, particularly through the study of related material culture, and to study the best means by which collaborative representation of Indigenous histories, cultures and concerns may be presented to the public.

i. Conducts primary research through the study of existing collections (including oral histories), archival research, and community-engaged initiatives.

ii. Furthers research through scholarly consultation and liaison with various institutions and communities.

Priority 3: Interpretation and Communication

To interpret knowledge obtained from their own research and other sources for the Museum's purposes, and to communicate this with staff, volunteers, and the various communities the Museum serves.

i. Shares knowledge through the development of content and materials for galleries, exhibits, programs, publications, workshops, lectures, public talks, and conferences.

ii. Acts as a main knowledge resource and spokesperson for areas of specialty, responding to media and public inquiries.

iii. Writes and edits material for a variety of academic and popular publications.

iv. Provides scholarly consultation and liaison with various institutions.

Priority 4: Supervision, Mentorship and Management

To advance institutional goals and objectives by initiating, coordinating and managing sectional projects and functions.

i. Performs administrative duties, including developing and maintaining work plans, departmental and project budgets, and reviewing and supporting ongoing collections and records management.

ii. Initiates, writes, reviews, and assesses grant applications and participates in fee-for-service contracts and general fundraising initiatives.

iii. Works collaboratively with the Director of RCE, Director of Learning & Engagement, and Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement to advance Indigenous community collaboration.

iv. Participates in various committees related to Indigenous initiatives, including attending the Indigenous Advisory Circle

v. On a rotational basis with co-curators of Human History (every 1-2 years), supervises Human History Collections staff as Lead Curator for Human History. This includes developing workplans and conducting performance reviews.

vi. Supervision of volunteers, interns, students, and research assistants as required.

vii. Coordinates and participates in partnerships on projects with external agencies and communities.

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

i. Significant knowledge of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit cultural history within Canada, with an emphasis on Nations within Manitoba, and with specialized knowledge in areas such as colonialism, indigenization, and decolonization.

ii. Demonstrated knowledge and sensitivities surrounding Indigenous belongings and an understanding of their importance within the cultural practices of contemporary Indigenous communities.

iii. Advanced knowledge of related academic disciplines, such as anthropology, historiography, museology, and material culture studies, with demonstrated research methods that may include archival research, community-based cultural research, linguistics, and the collecting of oral histories.

iv. Basic knowledge of general museum functions, including collections management, conservation, and use of intellectual property.

v. Established working relationships and/or familiarity with provincial, educational, heritage, cultural and community organizations, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit cultural, educational, and political organizations.

vi. Advanced communication skills, with the ability to write professional-level publications, deliver PowerPoint presentations, simplify complex ideas for public comprehension, speak clearly and concisely, and exercise utmost respect, tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive and/or confidential information.

vii. Familiarity with UNDRIP, TRC's Calls to Action, and the Canadian Museum Association's Moved to Action report.

viii. Ability to manage, work with, train and motivate assigned staff.

ix. Competent computer skills; familiarity with MS Office suite and cloud-based platforms like SharePoint and OneDrive; and experience with collections management databases, digital imaging and scanning software an asset.

x. Ability to work both independently and as a team member on multiple projects, adhering to institutional goals and objectives.

xi. Ability to perform heavy physical activity of short duration, including the lifting of objects in excess of 10 kg.

xii. Ability to travel, as needed.

Education, Training, and Experience

i. A Master of Arts (M.A.) in an appropriate field (e.g. Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology, History), with a PhD. or equivalent lived and/or work experience preferred

ii. 5 years of work experience in a culture or heritage organization, with museum experience preferred.

iii. An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $72,316.34-$86,349.50 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Dental care Disability insurance Employee assistance program Extended health care Life insurance Paid time off Vision care
Application question(s):

Do you self-identify as First Nations, Inuit, and Metis?
Experience:

Indigenous community work: 5 years (required)
Work Location: In person