The land on which the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is located is Epekwitk, the traditional and current territory of the Mi’kmaq People of this region. Epekwitk, which is the Mi’kmaq name for the area now known as Prince Edward Island, is one of seven traditional Mi’kmaq regions in Mi’kma’ki (the ancestral lands that comprise Atlantic Canada, and parts of eastern Quebec and Maine).

UPEI is committed to advancing reconciliation through higher education.

As a community, our University has started a journey of growth to realize the role we must play in promoting an understanding of Indigenous history and culture, and supporting respectful relationships. UPEI recognizes that discussions in this era of truth and reconciliation will unveil difficult facts within our country’s history. However, in keeping with our institutional vision, we know that education is vital to understanding the history of colonialism and the forward-looking process of reconciliation. Working together, we must use knowledge as a catalyst for meaningful change in communities here in Prince Edward Island and around our world.

UPEI is committed to its Values of Academic Freedom and Rigour; Accountability and Integrity; Excellence; and Inclusion, Equity, and Reconciliation.

As a University, UPEI’s Vision is to be a leader in providing outstanding programs and experiential learning opportunities that enable our students to develop to their full potential in both the classroom and the community, ensuring our students emerge from their studies ready to excel and contribute to the betterment of our world.

To assist UPEI in this journey and in achieving our Vision as a learning community, the University has created the role of Advisor to the Vice-President Academic and Research on Indigenous Affairs.

Reporting to the Vice-President Academic and Research, the Advisor on Indigenous Affairs will play a leadership role in planning, developing, and implementing Indigenous initiatives at UPEI. This includes providing guidance on stakeholder collaborations and helping to develop a better understanding of and response to the Calls to Action that relate to post-secondary education as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s final report.

Committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenization, the Advisor will work in collaboration with the UPEI campus community to facilitate a growing level of idea sharing, information and knowledge exchange, and a better understanding of Indigenous history and culture. Working with members of the University community and communities throughout PEI, the Advisor will play a key role in identifying opportunities to build awareness of Aboriginal issues through curriculum and the development of training programs.  The Advisor will also play a key role in progressing policy and processes that help advance decolonization and Indigenization at the University.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide strategic and operational advice to UPEI’s leadership team (including the President and Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-President Administration and Finance, and the Vice-President Academic and Research) on Indigenous initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with the Vice-President Academic and Research and diverse University and community working groups on developing, implementing, and evaluating activities that advance reconciliation at the University.
• Work with campus partners to develop an Indigenous Strategy for the UPEI community.
• Participate on working groups and committees to confirm and support UPEI’s goals and objectives as they relate to respectful conversations, decolonization, and Indigenization at the University.
• Identify, support and coordinate policy development, implementation, and review to facilitate full and equitable participation of Indigenous peoples and communities at UPEI.
• Working with UPEI’s EDI Office and other training partners, oversee the identification, development, delivery, and evaluation of training programs for the UPEI community.
• Demonstrate the University’s Value of Equity, Inclusion and Reconciliation by promoting a culture of respect, knowledge, and inclusion and developing initiatives that support a welcoming learning and work environment for individuals with diverse backgrounds and identities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate for this position is an Indigenous person with leadership, planning, and communications skills. The Advisor to the Vice-President Academic and Research will be required to have a strong collaborative focus, as well as active ties and relationships to an Indigenous community and/or Indigenous networks. Through their education, experience, and valuable perspectives, the Advisor will play an important role in UPEI’s forward-looking process of reconciliation.

Additional qualifications include:

• A university degree
• A minimum of five (5) years related experience (such as collaborative project planning and implementation experience)
• Consideration will be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience with demonstrated skills that align with the position
• Strong communication, listening, and interpersonal skills will be highly valued in the role
• Experience in assessing feedback, drafting reports, and managing deadlines and priorities is beneficial
• Effective relationship building and network development skills are needed, as well as the ability to engage collaborative with diverse partners and perspectives