Historical/Archival/Cultural Officer 3 (Curator of Mi'kmaw Cultural Heritage) (Designated)

Designation Status

This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as Indigenous Person.

See the Nova Scotia Government’s Employment Equity Policy for more information, including additional details on the designated groups.

About Us

The Nova Scotia Museum is part of the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. This department supports communities across the province to be welcoming, inclusive, and accessible, providing a great quality of life for Nova Scotians. We value the collective diversity of our natural and cultural heritage and our people and believe in the transformative nature of culture to help create healthy, active, growing communities.
 

For more information visit https://cch.novascotia.ca/

About Our Opportunity

Under the general supervision of the Manager of Collections, the Curator of Mi’kmaw Cultural Heritage undertakes planning and professional work involved with the acquisition, research, and care of the objects and belongings related to the Mi’kmaw Cultural Heritage Collection at the Nova Scotia Museum. The collection consists of objects of cultural significance to the Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia.

Primary Accountabilities

This curatorial position with the Nova Scotia Museum works directly with Mi’kmaq cultural belongings and artifacts in the provincial museum collection. They act as stewards of these museum collection materials on behalf of the Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia and serve as a senior-level liaison and educator with Mi’kmaw communities province wide.
 

As the Curator of Mi’kmaw Cultural Heritage, you will work to develop collaborative relationships with Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage colleagues and those working in other museums, government departments and similar institutions including academia. You support provincial policy, and public education by providing expertise on Mi’kmaw history and heritage.
 

In this role as Curator, you will be expected to have strong verbal and written skills as well as a publication history and ability to communicate the role and relevance of the Nova Scotia Museum’s Mi’kmaw Collection with diverse audiences. This will include responding to community and public enquiries and research requests and facilitating access to and use of the collection in research and interpretive initiatives. This position supervises students, research associates and staff as required.
 

Key duties of this position include collection curation, including acquisition, deaccessions, documentation, and management of the Mi’kmaw heritage collection and cultural belongings; Supervision of staff, research associates, assistants, volunteers, students as applicable; leadership in research and presentation of results through online and traditional publications, interpretive products, exhibitions, lectures and other means.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role you will need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree plus five (5) years related experience; or a Master’s degree plus 3 years of related experience. A specialized degree related to Mi’kmaw History or Heritage, with broad experience in a range of Mi’kmaw cultural heritage and community areas will be considered an asset.
 

Candidates should demonstrate extensive and thorough knowledge of Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia, Mi’kmaw heritage and history. They must have experience with conducting research; working with museum collections; collection management; and conservation principles, including safe care and handling of objects.

Experience should include but not be limited to:

• Strong working knowledge of Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia, Mi’kmaw culture and heritage
• Experience working in and with Mi’kmaq or other Indigenous communities.
• Ability to develop and cultivate strong relationships within the Mi’kmaw community such as Mi’kmaw cultural organizations, Mi’kmaw artists, musicians, educators, Elders, knowledge holders, and community leaders.
• Best practices of museum collection object preparation and preservation, including preventative conservation and safe handling
• Training and expertise in museum methods including cataloguing and database use.
• Ability to speak Mi’kmaw is an asset.

You will possess highly developed organizational and communication skills (both oral and written) and have knowledge of relevant computer systems including museum databases. An interpersonal style that promotes cooperation and collaboration in a fast-paced museum environment, and a commitment to public service excellence are required.
 

Expertise working with a diverse range of researchers and community members including those under-represented in museums will be seen as an asset for this position.

Equivalency

An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs.  For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

Combination of office and laboratory working environment, museum storage areas and exhibit galleries with occasional field work. Some travel required. Must be able to lift and stack objects and file boxes weighing up to 14 kilograms (some specimens may be heavier). This position involves some fieldwork which requires the ability to traverse terrain that may be challenging and can involve use of field equipment.

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• Department specific flexible working schedules