Title of Employment

The North Vancouver Museum and Archives and its Indigenous Voices Advisory Committee are seeking an energetic, conscientious individual to fulfill an internship and provide assistance to the Museum Curator for a period of twenty-four weeks.

The Museum of North Vancouver will be opening its new location in the Shipyards District of Lower Lonsdale in 2020. This is an exciting opportunity for an Indigenous Nation member to learn about curatorial work in a museum setting, build a variety of skills, and conduct research on Indigenous topics and objects. The North Vancouver Museum has a collection of over 8,000 historic objects, including objects related to the Moodyville town site, the development of the waterfront and the shipbuilding industry, outdoor recreation, North Shore households, municipal transportation, local First Nation activities, outdoor recreation, North Shore households, municipal transportation, and notable citizens.

The Position:
The Curatorial Assistant will assist with a variety of museum collection management tasks to survey and care for the museum collection, as well as plan and install new exhibits. Indigenous youth (16 to 30 years of age at the start of employment) are strongly encouraged to apply. The goal of this position is to develop ways for səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation members to represent their own history and culture in concert with cultural institutions such as the NVMA.
 
Specific Duties:
Tasks will include:
• Researching Indigenous content for future exhibits
• Researching Indigenous objects for future exhibits
• Assisting in the installation of exhibits and artifacts
• Developing exhibit texts and labels
• Basic cleaning and conservation of artifacts
• Assist with special events and programs at the museum

Preferred Skills and Knowledge:
Candidates should be able to self-identify as Indigenous, and/or are a Tsleil-Waututh (səlilwətaɬ), or Squamish (Skwxwú7mesh) Nation member, and/or have a close connection to a Coast Salish Nation. In addition, the following qualities are desired:
• Completed undergraduate degree or certificate in an area appropriate to this position such as: History, Archaeology, Museum Studies, Anthropology, First Nations Studies, or Library, Archival or Information Studies.
• Interest and some knowledge in local and First Nations history, museum exhibits and collections.
• Some knowledge of preventive conservation, artifact care and handling, and experience preparing artifact mounts is an asset, as is experience with museum documentation and database systems like PastPerfect.
• Other qualifications include an interest in material culture and in museum or archives work, a high degree of computer literacy, ability to maintain accuracy under pressure and deadlines, ability to lift 20lbs and walk up and down stairs, effective interpersonal and organizational skills, and excellent written and spoken English language skills.
• Criminal Record Check may be required.

Wage: $20.89 plus statutory holidays and vacation pay
Work week: 30 hrs/week (4x7.5 hr days)
Term: 8 September 2020 to 5 March 2021 (24 work weeks, with 2 week shut down over Christmas)
Work Sites: North Vancouver Museum (115 W Esplanade, North Vancouver) and Community History Centre (3203 Institute Road)
Application Deadline: Friday August 7, 2020 5pm PDT.

Please submit resumé and covering letter by e-mail to nvmac@dnv.org, specifying “Curatorial Assistant Position” and your name in the subject line or by fax (604-987-5688).

This position is funded in part via Young Canada Works in Heritage Institutions Internships for Graduates program of the Department of Canadian Heritage, administered through the Canadian Museums Association. Position is subject to receipt of funding. Candidates must be registered on the Young Canada Works website and meet all eligibility criteria to be considered for this position:

• are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada; Note: Non-Canadian students holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent status are not eligible.
• are legally entitled to work in Canada;
• will be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment;
• are willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment;
• will not have another full-time job (over 30 hours a week**) while employed with YCW;
• are an unemployed or underemployed college or university graduate, that is, not employed full-time;
• are a recent graduate who has graduated from college or university
• are not receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while employed with YCW;
• have not previously participated in or been paid under this or any other Career Focus internship program funded under the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy.

PLEASE CONFIRM IN YOUR APPLICATION THAT YOU HAVE READ AND MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. Visit www.youngcanadaworks.ca for particulars.

The North Vancouver Museum and Archives Commission is an equal opportunity employer. Indigenous Nation members are strongly encouraged to apply.