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CHAIR IN INDIGENOUS SPIRITUALITY AND RECONCILIATION Full Time NEW
St. Thomas More College (STM) invites outstanding candidates who identify as Indigenous to apply for the Providence kanaweyihtâkosowin Chair in Indigenous Spirituality and Reconciliation. The purpose of the position is: to teach; conduct research; and to engage in robust collaboration and consultation with Indigenous communities and peoples within the province, rooted in their area of expertise, and concentrated on spirituality and reconciliation. The successful candidate will serve as Chair for a period of up to five years in a limited term appointment starting July 1, 2026, with the possibility of renewal. The Chair will be housed in the academic department or unit of the College most closely aligned with their expertise. The Chair will be accountable to the STM College President through the Dean in accordance with the 2023 – 2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement between STM and the STM Faculty Union, as well as policies and practices in place for academic appointments at STM. This role is in-person, and the work primarily takes place at STM and within the province of Saskatchewan.
STM is a Catholic liberal arts college in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and is federated with the University of Saskatchewan (USask). The university is located on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis and on the banks of the kisiskāciwani-sīpiy (also known as the South Saskatchewan River). STM is committed to reconciliation, decolonization, and Indigenous engagement as a strategic priority. As part of this commitment, the College plans to increase the number of Indigenous faculty within the college and create space for their knowledge and expertise, which can be uplifted in a supportive and collaborative community.
STM collaborates with USask departments to offer undergraduate and graduate programs in the humanities and social sciences, providing a rich interdisciplinary environment for scholarship. In STM’s mission statement, we affirm that “through our teaching we are devoted to a partnership of learning and growth with our students which addresses the synthesis of faith and reason in all aspects of the human condition.” Over time, this emphasis on reflective learning has cultivated a deep interest in social justice, expressed through STM’s unique interdisciplinary programs (e.g., Catholic studies; critical perspectives on social justice and the common good; and peace studies), extracurricular events and activities, and faculty research. Additional information about STM and the University of Saskatchewan is available at https://stmcollege.ca.
The Chair in Indigenous Spirituality and Reconciliation is a new position within STM and has been developed to attract distinguished and experienced Indigenous scholars with demonstrated leadership abilities in areas such as research, teaching, administration, and program development. The Chair makes positive contributions to the lives of our students, to the broader STM community, and to Indigenous peoples and communities within Saskatchewan. Candidates are encouraged to share how their connections to Indigenous communities inform their teaching, research, and/or artistic activities. Applicants must be Indigenous persons with clear and demonstrable ties to Indigenous communities. STM relies on Section 48 of The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code to give preference in employment to a person of Indigenous ancestry for this position.
Accountabilities:
• Develops (where appropriate) and teaches 1-2 courses per academic year related to Indigenous spirituality and culture, as approved by the Dean of STM.
• Conducts, guides, or advises on research, scholarly, and/or artistic work.
• Contributes to service activities of the department or unit.
• Develops and implements strategies for enhanced, trusted, and robust relationships with Indigenous communities and stakeholders who are connected to various local and northern communities.
• Encourages and fosters awareness and appreciation of Indigenous spirituality and reconciliation by facilitating dialogue within the academic community and the broader society, and through exemplary teaching and reputable research.
• Serves on the Indigenous Advisory Circle, providing guidance and support on Indigenous spirituality, reconciliation, and cultural traditions to STM stakeholders.
• Collaborates with the College to create and support safe learning environments for Indigenous students.
Qualifications
Education: A Master’s degree in the area of humanities or social sciences is required. Other academic areas will be considered. A doctorate in an area of the humanities or social sciences is considered an asset. Knowledge of an Indigenous language is required. The candidate is expected to have demonstrated teaching proficiency and ability to make positive contributions to undergraduate teaching that aligns with their expertise. The ability to contribute to one of STM’s distinctive academic areas (e.g., critical perspectives on social justice and the common good; Catholic studies; peace studies; and religious studies) or areas equivalent to these would be considered an asset. Candidates must demonstrate a willingness to connect their work to the mission of St. Thomas More College. Consideration will be given to individuals deemed to have equivalent qualifications and experience.
Experience:
• A strong record of knowledge creation or research achievement, and sharing in Indigenous community contexts.
• A proven record of inclusive and effective student-centered teaching, research, scholarly and/or artistic work.
• Experience with research methodologies and an understanding of OCAP principles.
• An established history of positive contributions to academic and/or community administration and service.
• A demonstrated commitment to using and extending Indigenous theories, methodologies, and pedagogies.
Compensation: Salary will be determined based on academic qualifications and experience and will follow the salary ranks within in the 2023 – 2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement between STM and the STM Faculty Union. We also offer a comprehensive benefits plan.
Application Materials: Applications are to include the following materials: a cover letter describing the applicant’s credentials, relevant experience, and teaching and research strengths; a curriculum vitae (include current email address, phone number, and home address at which the applicant can be reached); teaching dossier (including teaching philosophy, copies of any student and peer evaluations, if available, sample syllabi, and other materials as appropriate); evidence of knowledge creation and/or research achievement; three letters of recommendation, one of which must be academic and another which speaks to the candidate’s work in Indigenous community contexts (please have them sent directly to [email protected] and transcripts of the qualifying degree). While not a requirement, in the teaching philosophy mentioned above, a statement that thoughtfully reflects on student feedback and demonstrates a commitment to pedagogical growth would be most welcome. Candidates invited for an interview will be required to provide a statement responding to the College’s Mission Statement.
Review of Applications will begin April 20, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Please forward application materials via email to: Dean’s Office, St. Thomas More College, 1437 College Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W6 at [email protected]. Applicants, therefore, must indicate the department in which they seek appointment such as, economics; English; history; languages, literatures, and cultural studies; philosophy; political studies; psychology; religion and culture; sociology; or one of STM’s unique interdisciplinary programs (e.g., Catholic studies; critical perspectives on social justice and the common good; peace studies), and their disciplinary area of expertise. Hiring decisions will be based on the applicant’s academic qualifications, record and strengths, along with their potential and willingness to support the strategic priorities of the College and relevant department, as well as the department’s ability to support the candidate.
St. Thomas More College is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and is proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the communities we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. Only Indigenous candidates will be considered for this position. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapewin: Indigenous Truth policy and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship with documentation is a condition of employment and a requirement to hold this position and the successful candidate must maintain those conditions throughout their employment. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. While we appreciate all interest in this position, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.