Indigenous Affairs Commissioner

  • Contract

Company Description

With over 20,000 members, SSMU’s role is to represent undergraduate students and to offer them services since 1908.

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Indigenous Affairs Commissioner coordinates all activities and work relating to Indigenous Affairs at SSMU. The Indigenous Affairs Commissioner will represent Indigenous students to the SSMU, and will be responsible for engaging and adequately representing Indigenous students through consultation of the Indigenous Affairs Committee. The Indigenous Affairs Commissioner is mandated to support Indigenous equity by organizing, and facilitating events, campaigns, workshops, and conferences aimed at uplifting and meeting the needs of Indigenous students on campus.

The Indigenous Affairs Commissioner will also be responsible for coordinating and effectively managing the relationship between SSMU, and Indigenous stakeholders. Such activities will include community-building, as well as utilizing the SSMU’s existing services to support Indigenous students. The Commissioner will work manage other positions within the Indigenous Affairs portfolio, with the purpose of supporting and Indigenizing both the SSMU, and McGill University. Such work includes administering the Indigenous Equity Fund, consulting Indigenous student clubs, and acting as a point of contact for SSMU members who wish to learn more or consult on Indigenous issues.


RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Chairing and coordinating the SSMU Indigenous Affairs Committee;

  2. Coordinating outreach to Indigenous groups around campus and the greater McGill / Montreal community;

  3. Organizing various educational events such as film-screenings, workshops, campaigns and research conferences, etc. on Indigeneity, such as a Reconciliation Campaign;

  4. Helping draft, implement and revise the SSMU Indigenous Solidarity Policy;

  5. Representing SSMU on the McGill Joint-Board Senate Committee on Equity Subcommittee on Aboriginal Peoples, if the undergraduate seat is vacant, and/or the Aboriginal Affairs Work Group;

  6. Coordinating, hiring, and supporting relevant staff within the Indigenous Affairs portfolio, including, but not limited to, the Indigenous Equity Researcher, the Indigenous Events Coordinator, and the Indigenous Advocacy Coordinator;

  7. Administering the Indigenous Equity Fund;

  8. Expand the visual representation of Indigeneity on campus;

  9. Acting as a resource for Indigenous SSMU members;

  10. Provide consultative services to the SSMU executive, and the broader Society;

  11. Planning of annual Indigenous Affairs Academic Conference, in consultation and collaboration with the Indigenous Affairs Committee;

  12. Identifying larger issues which present barriers to indigenous student success at McGill, and facilitating events and campaigns which target and overcome those barriers.;

  13. Reporting once monthly to the SSMU Board of Directors;

  14. Presenting an end-of-year report to the SSMU Legislative Council;

  15. Consult regularly with students/staff/community members from Kahnawake;

  16. Represent Indigenous students to the rest of the Society.


OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS:

To undertake other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the SSMU Indigenous Affairs Committee.

SUPERVISION REQUIRED:

The Indigenous Affairs Commissioner will receives general direction from the SSMU Indigenous Affairs Committee and report to each the SSMU IAC and the SSMU Board of Directors, and in their absence, the General Manager. 


WORKING CONDITIONS:

  1. High pressure work environment from both an operational and political perspective.

  2. Equipment used:  Computer, Microsoft Environment (Word, Excel, Outlook).

 

Qualifications

 

  • Connection to urban Indigenous community;

  • Ability to mobilize Indigenous and non-Indigenous community;

  • Knowledge of SSMU Governance structure is an asset;

  • Knowledge about internal Indigenous community at McGill;

  • Experience running campaigns and organizing events;

  • Knowledge of Reconciliation-based documents and work at McGill;

  • Strong communication skills;

  • Diligence and impartiality in execution of duties;

  •  Highly organized and strong attention to detail;

  •  Ability to make fair and equitable decisions under pressure;

  • Strong communication skills both in English and French an asset;

Additional Information

 

  • Paid position; $18/hr
  • Hours: On average 12 hours per week
  • Fixed-term contract with high possibility of extension
  • Deadline to apply is Jan 23rd, 2024