Employment Opportunity: Prince of Wales Campus

Working closely with Indigenous communities the Indigenous Student Research Assistant will support the applied research project grounded in Indigenous methodologies, community priorities, and ethical research practices.  

Working collaboratively with the Office of Culture and Inclusion, institutional researchers, Indigenous communities, Elders, and students, the role contributes to respectful, community-informed research that advances Indigenous knowledge, and Etuaptmumk (two-eyed seeing) principles.  

This position is funded through project-based applied research contracts, for the Indigenous Women’s Experience in Post-Secondary College Education research partnership with the Aboriginal Women’s Association of Prince Edward Island (AWAPEI). As such, duties and timelines are aligned with funder expectations, community priorities, and contractual deliverables.

In the spirit of Reconciliation and decolonial research practices, the Indigenous Student Research Assistant plays a meaningful, supported role in centering community voices throughout the research process. The position emphasizes relational accountability, learning, and knowledge sharing while cultivating Indigenous research capacity from a community centered lens.

Safe Space for Growth

We understand these skills would be in development and provide a safe space within the project to grow them with the full support of the Department of People and Culture, as well as the Department of Applied Research in collaboration with our partner AWAPEI.

Key Responsibilities / Expected Lived-Experiences

• Identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis) and have knowledge of or connection to local Indigenous communities.
• Support applied research projects, including planning, data collection (interviews, surveys, storytelling), and literature reviews using a Two‑Eyed Seeing approach.
• Assist with community activities such as meetings, sharing circles, interviews, and art‑based healing sessions.
• Learn and apply ethical research practices, including principles outlined in TCPS 2 CORE 2022, while developing skills to work respectfully and collaboratively with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members. Training and mentorship will be provided as part of the role.
• Work independently and collaboratively, with strong organizational skills; role includes flexible hours, some travel, and work in indoor/outdoor community settings.

• Complete or willing to complete the free course for research ethics in Canada, TCPS 2 CORE- 2022. The course is a requirement for all researchers when applying to a Research Ethics Board in Canada and takes approximately 4 hours online to complete and receive your certificate. See link for more information, https://tcps2core.ca/welcome.
• Complete or be willing to complete the online OCAP (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession) course (5 hours), an Indigenous Data Governance course that will be fully paid for.
• This position is intended to empower Indigenous community members by increasing Indigenous representation and participation in research activities. In support of this objective, preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis).