Position: Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

Reporting to: Executive Director

Salary: $42,000 + benefits for 30 hour work week or $26/hour

Hours: Permanent. Up to 30 hours/week.

Candidates will ideally work between 15 to 30 hours a week, and initial discussions will explore

what the work week looks like for you. You have the ability to negotiate your contract to suit the

needs of your body and lifestyle and to accommodate your capacity. Hours could include time

spent working from home. Some evenings and weekends required for special events; flex time

available.

About Nanaimo Art Gallery

Located on the lands of the Snuneymuxw, in the heart of downtown Nanaimo, Nanaimo Art

Gallery is an dynamic public art gallery that inspires and engages its communities through art.

We honour the Snuneymuxw people and the territory on which the Gallery operates, carrying

ourselves with qwum qwum uy’shqwalawun: operating in the spirit of “good heart, good mind.”

With this intention, Nanaimo Art Gallery’s values are:

● Relevance: our work is grounded in community and place

● Relationships: we believe in building, nurturing and sustaining relationships

● Innovation: we are at the forefront of creativity with quality programs and exhibitions

● Openness: we are a welcoming organization for all

Position Overview

The Indigenous Engagement Coordinator shares the Nanaimo Art Gallery team’s values and is

responsible for incorporating Indigenous perspectives for inclusive, respectful and effective

engagement. With our goal of strengthening community connections in mind, the Indigenous

Engagement Coordinator is encouraged to shape the position, drawing on their interests and

experiences.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

The Indigenous Engagement Coordinator makes this position their own, bringing their unique

ideas, passions and experiences to the role. With support from the Gallery team, responsibilities

will include, but may not be limited to:

● Stewarding existing relationships and cultivating new relationships and partnerships, that

include the host nation, Elders, language champions, artists, and knowledge keepers

● Engaging in partnerships with Indigenous stakeholders to inform our policies, exhibitions

and programs

● Developing and implementing outreach strategies and encouraging collaborations with

Indigenous groups and other diverse community groups

● Developing and assisting with funding applications to support new initiatives related to

Indigenous engagement

● Walking alongside the organization as we continue to address issues of justice, equity,

diversity and inclusion throughout the organization

● Supporting educational programming and exhibition development, especially Indigenous

artists and content

● Supporting ongoing internal and external cultural sensitivity and safety training

● Supporting work acknowledging territory in new ways and meaningful ways and continue

our work supporting hul’q’umi’num learning

● Centralizing the protocols and procedures relating to Indigenous communities and

diversity

● Staying attuned to evolving practices within the arts and culture sector

● Recommending strategies to move the Gallery forward

Requirements (Qualifications, Knowledge, Education and Skills)

● First hand knowledge of the protocols and procedures to develop relationships with

Indigenous Elders, leaders and knowledge keepers

● Skilled at building and maintaining relationships and partnerships with Indigenous artists,

community groups, organizations and stakeholders

● Passion for art and culture

● Proactive and self-motivated

● Exceptional interpersonal skills

● Ability to facilitate matters of cultural protocol and cultural safety

● Can demonstrate a strong understanding of the local context

● Desire to contribute to and collaborate with a creative team

● Confident and clear communicator with strong written and oral communication skills

● Ability to think critically, employ sound judgment, evaluate situations and engage

appropriate parties at varying levels to arrive at solutions.

● Ability to successfully organize, prioritize and complete multiple planned and unplanned

projects

● Proficiency in common communication tools (MS Office, Google Suite, Zoom, etc)

● 3-5 years related experience

Nanaimo Art Gallery hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity

within its community.

Preference will be given to an individual of Indigenous descent, with priority given to members

of the Snuneymuxw community.

The Gallery encourages applications from women, visible minority group members, persons with

disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the

skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.