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Job Description:
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ARE YOU CURIOUS? CALLING FOR MUSEUM RESEARCH AND COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT
Buffalo Nations Museum in Banff Alberta is inviting applicants who love to have conversations with people of all ages and culture about history and current affairs to apply to join the museum’s heritage team. We value an honest ethical social young person with high emotional intelligence and eager to learn about Canada and its peoples. We prefer a 3rd or 4th year university student with experience working with Indigenous projects and a desire to progress and learn more. Come and join an interactive summer of events: annual Powwow, opening new exhibits, Indigenous Speaker Series, Elder panels, movie nights, medicine walks, Indigenous artist workshops, and much more programming.
Job Description
Objectives/Goals
The Researcher will be an educated resource to review and update collections and loan agreements for accurate and complete cataloguing and compliance. Researcher will add creativity to displays with new curation ideas and signage. Adding value to the messages within the historical landmark should be the student’s major achievement by end of work term.
Museum Benefits:
•To act on the “truth and reconciliation” calls to action that reconciliation (understanding each other’s cultures), begins with us, the museum leaders and their mission
•To promote cultural revitalization by hiring a researcher familiar with Indigenous culture
•To promote visitor and Board dialogue and cultural experiences by continually enhancing the stories the collections tell, through further research
•To update and learn current museum practices as learned by post-secondary student
Student Benefits:
•To learn Canadian history through the lens of authentic Indigenous cultural leaders
•To strengthen their understanding of Indigenous history and current events in Canada
•To adapt to unique museum environment (heritage building log fort with small staff and Indigenous Board), and tourist location
•To learn to write signage for exhibitions and grants for funding projects, professionally with purpose
•To help student make decisions on their future field of studies
•To build relationships with other student, staff, visitors, and Indigenous supporters of museum to continuously expand their knowledge and understanding of other cultures.
Work Tasks and Responsibilities
•Update collections on database in accordance with loan agreements and museum standards, and prepare for annual inspections by lender and Management;
•Clean exhibits and display cases in accordance with museum safe practices;
•Update collection signage with new plexiglass signs to be installed summer 2019;
•Research and compile a report on the history of the museum for use within collections, website, and drafting grant applications;
•Work with Interpreter to update walking guide content on museum “app”
•Work with Interpreter to update “Frequently Asked Questions and Answers” information for admissions staff, Interpreter, and content on technology in museum;
•Work with Interpreter to design and implement digital volunteer database;
•Work with technology consultant to edit “Technology Use Manual”
•Work with technology consultant to update website contents;
•Set-up digital volunteer database;
•Research areas of contemporary museum practice such as, use of technology (professional development by visiting other museums);
•Update museum best practices and policies to reflect current generally accepted practices.
Supervision
Student will be trained under supervision and mentoring of Museum Manager and Board of Director, an Elder and experienced guide.
Candidate profile
•In 3rd or 4th year university student, in museum-related or communication fields of history, anthropology, psychology, sociology, literature, languages, arts, and museum studies
•Indigenous upbringing and knowledge of traditions preferred though not required
•High emotional intelligence as they will be tested in interview and ongoing review during the period of employment
•Prior job experience in museum with collections preferred but not required
•Positive personality with an appetite to learn and grow in their career
•Writing purposefully comes easily, words evoke emotion and add value to museum’s mission to educate
•Creative (arts background), to enhance storytelling signage, programming, and exhibits
•Advanced competence with computer technology a valuable asset
Please email a brief cover letter describing why you want to work at the museum and a resume with detailed education, work, and volunteer experience to Angelika Eirisch at angelikacpa@gmail.com on or before April 22nd, 2019.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those invited for phone and skype interviews, will be contacted.
Museum will assist hired candidate with finding reasonable-priced accommodation.
This position is subject to grant approval.
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