Graduate Academic Assistant for Haida Gwaii Institute

Graduate Academic Assistant Position
Haida Gwaii Institute – Small TLEF Innovation Project (2025/26)
Project Title: HGSE 371 Re-Storying History: Indigenous Perspectives Pre-Requisite Course

About the Haida Gwaii Institute (HGI)
The Haida Gwaii Institute (HGI) delivers transformative, place-based education inspired by Haida Gwaii. We offer undergraduate semesters, online courses, and professional development programs. By connecting academic knowledge with local expertise, HGI fosters meaningful exchanges that broaden perspectives and prepare students to address complex global challenges.

Position Summary
We are seeking a Graduate Academic Assistant (GAA) to support the development of a pilot 3-credit, first-year Indigenous foundational online course. This course will serve as a pre-requisite to HGSE 371: Re-Storying History – Indigenous Perspectives and will be open to all students.

The course aims to provide a foundational understanding of Indigenous history and contemporary issues, ensuring all students in the Faculty of Forestry and HGI are equipped for future learning. The project supports the development of cohesive pathways, course alignment, and scaffolding of skills to prepare students for working respectfully with Indigenous peoples and communities in their future studies and careers.

Key Responsibilities
Review existing Indigenous-focused syllabi and course content in the Faculty of Forestry
Review the Community and Indigenous Forestry concentration within the Forest Resource Management program
Scan foundational Indigenous courses and open-source learning experiences at UBC and beyond
Create curriculum maps and identify knowledge gaps and integration opportunities
Collaborate with an advisory group (faculty, Indigenous scholars, elders, youth, HGI staff)
Facilitate a workshop with advisors to review and provide feedback on the pilot course draft
Develop a workshop summary report with key themes and resource recommendations
Support recruitment strategy and info sessions; engage UBC student communities
Assist in designing inclusive course activities and improving content accessibility
Apply emerging educational technologies (e.g., H5P, MS Immersive Reader, Kaltura)
Support the development and implementation of an evaluation strategy
Design student surveys (Qualtrics), facilitate focus groups, and conduct post-course debriefs
Compile a final evaluation report with recommendations
Supervision
This position reports directly to the HGI Director and works closely with the HGI Programs & Operations Manager, Forestry faculty, project advisors, and the Teaching and Learning Support Team. Work will be both independent and collaborative, with regular supervision via weekly meetings, email, and MS Teams.

Qualifications
Required:

Current UBC Vancouver graduate student
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Experience with Canvas, Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams), and UBC OneDrive
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Excellent organizational and project management skills
Preferred:

Background in Forestry, Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation, Indigenous Studies, or Education
Experience working with Indigenous communities
Knowledge of inclusive teaching practices and Universal Design for Learning
Familiarity with educational technology (e.g., WordPress, iClickers, third-party tools)
Strong presentation and public speaking skills
Position Details
Job Type: Graduate Academic Assistant
Number of Positions: 1
Hours: 8–10 hours/week (up to 380 hours total from July 1 – April 15)
Salary: $38.65/hour
Location: Primarily remote, with regular Zoom meetings; occasional in-person meetings at UBC Vancouver may be required
Application Deadline: June 25, 2025

Application Requirements
Please submit the following:

Cover Letter
Resume
Contact information for references
Email to: hg.institute@ubc.ca