Indigenous Health Governance – Tenure-Track Tier 2 Canada Research Chair

Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University (SFU) strives to act in accordance with political, legal, and moral mandates, such as: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Report that calls on researchers in Canadian institutions to build new relationships with Indigenous peoples based on equitable collaboration and multiples ways of knowing; the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act that upholds the importance of self-determination of Indigenous peoples and the right to autonomy or self-governance, including in matters of health and wellbeing; and SFU’s Reconciliation Reports that upholds the importance of partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations to advance the work required to decolonize and Indigenize the university. Within this frame, the Academic Plan (2018-2023) of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at SFU outlines the importance of hiring and mentoring Indigenous health scholars and invites applications for a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Indigenous Health Governance with an anticipated start date of Fall 2024 or later.

The Faculty of Health Sciences
FHS is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations at the SFU Burnaby campus. Created in 2005, the mission of the Faculty is to improve the health of individuals and populations and to reduce health inequities through excellence in interdisciplinary research and education, in partnership with local, national, and global communities. FHS is committed to social justice, respect for human dignity, and equity. The successful candidate will join a diverse and dynamic team of more than 50 multi-disciplinary faculty members and will have the opportunity to engage with and teach outstanding students in the PhD, MSc, MPH, and BA/BSc programs. The Faculty maintains collaborative agreements and partnerships with the BC government, regional health authorities, the First Nations Health Authority, research centres, and other health agencies.

The Position
We seek a scholar whose program of research uses Indigenous methodologies to build Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determine their own health and wellness journeys. The successful applicant will be familiar with the provincial health system, as well as have established partnership/partnerships with Indigenous nations, communities, and/or organizations, in British Columbia (BC), Canada.

The successful applicant will be expected to engage in research on Indigenous health governance in collaboration with partners, including the BC First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). FNHA is the health and wellness partner to over 200 diverse First Nations communities and citizens across BC, and has a Research Affiliation Agreement with SFU. The candidate will help FHS support and enforce reciprocal recognition and respectful relationships with Indigenous communities. They will be expected to assume the leadership of the Centre for Collaborative Action on Indigenous Health Governance, which will have a shared governance model with the FNHA. A reduced teaching load (1.5 courses per year) will be provided during the term of the Tier 2 Chair, and the successful applicant will be expected to actively contribute to teaching in Indigenous health, as well as supervising graduate students.

CRC appointments use a two-step application process where candidates must first apply to an open job posting to the university and then submit an application for external peer review. This tenure-track CRC appointment opportunity is intended for emerging scholars in a related health or social science field, at the rank of assistant or associate professor (or those who possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels). The applicant’s research area should primarily align with the mandate of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) or the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), as outlined in the Guidelines for Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency.

Tier 2 Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidate must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination). Applicants who are more than 10 years from their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as parental leave, extended sick leave, clinical training etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 CRC assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process; please see the CRC website for eligibility details.

Candidate Requirements:
The search committee acknowledges that no single applicant is likely to meet all of the following criteria in equal measure and interested candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate:

Experience:

• Strong, respectful, reciprocal relationships, and engagement with Indigenous communities;
• A network of colleagues and organizations engaged in collaborative efforts related to Indigenous knowledges;
• Capacity to build sustainable partnerships and secure external research grant funding;
• Success in working collaboratively with colleagues, students, and staff in academic, research, professional, and community contexts;
• Commitment to supporting research interests driven by Indigenous communities in BC, in addition to their own individual professional achievements;
• Use of Indigenous methodologies;
• Contributions to knowledge exchange, integration, and mobilization with Indigenous communities related to Indigenous people’s right to self-determine their own health and wellness journeys; and
• Competence in Indigenous-based governance structures in BC.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Ability to foster respectful and reciprocal relationships across disciplinary, cultural, and community differences, within academia, with external partners and in the province;
• Ability to cultivate a sense of respect, trust, and leadership among elders, knowledge keepers, research collaborators, community partners, faculty, staff, students, and trainees;
• Ability to communicate Indigenous and academic approaches to complex and sensitive issues in ways that promote dialogue, understanding, and the building of consensus within the academy, with Indigenous communities, and among wider audiences; and
• Ability to foster collaborative work environments that promote equity and diversity, including accessibility, in process, procedures and outputs.

Research & Collaborative Values:

• The highest standards of ethics and integrity, according to both academic and Indigenous traditions of right action and ethical relationality;
• A respectful and open approach informed by Indigenous values and traditions, and a commitment to the building and sharing of advanced knowledge in academic and public institutions honouring relational accountability;
• A willingness to think creatively and ability to innovate, including ongoing engagement with a diversity of approaches to knowledge creation; and
• The ideal candidate also values diverse perspectives and continuous learning.

Teaching and mentorship:

• Knowledge and experience with Indigenous pedagogies;
• Incorporation of Indigenous ways of knowing, teaching, and learning into instructional and mentorship practice; and
• Commitment to decolonizing approaches to education and creating inclusive learning environments.

Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous or have Indigenous ancestry and will bring to this role knowledge that comes from the lived experiences of those underrepresented in higher education, particularly the experiences of Indigenous persons. Such candidates who wish to qualify for preferential consideration are requested to self-identify in their application.

Education
The CRC program has been structured to support candidates who work in academia. Therefore, candidates with a PhD in a relevant social science or health field are most likely to be successful. Candidates who are currently close to completing their doctorates are encouraged to apply if their area of scholarship aligns with the position. Candidates who do not have a PhD, but who have commensurate experience and whose scholarship aligns with the position will also be considered.

How To Apply
Applicants are asked to provide the following documents (Word or PDF):

1. A signed application letter that addresses how the applicant meets the position requirements regarding experience, interpersonal skills, research and collaborative values, teaching and mentorship, and education set out above;
2. An up-to-date, full curriculum vitae (include details of research and teaching, scholarly record, funding, and list of collaborations/partnerships);
3. A proposed program of research (3-5 pages, single spaced) that:
   • Defines how program of research falls in the domain of Indigenous health governances and builds Indigenous people’s right to self-determine their own health and wellness journeys;
   • Explains how the proposed research is grounded in a particular understanding of Indigenous knowledges and methodologies;
   • Responds to demonstrated interests expressed by Indigenous community(ies) and/or Indigenous nations or organizations in BC;
   • Describes how the scholar has built relationships with Indigenous communities that are central to the success of the research;
   • Addresses how research contributes to knowledge exchange, integration, and mobilization with Indigenous communities related to Indigenous people’s right to self-determine their own health and wellness journeys; and
   • Defines the role of collaboration with FNHA in the proposed research program;
4. Two examples of excellent scholarly work. This can include non-traditional or unconventional outputs, such as those based in Indigenous ways of knowing;
5. A teaching portfolio including a two-page statement of teaching philosophy and experience, including experience with and understanding of inclusive teaching and diverse student needs, as well as other evidence of teaching strengths; and
6. The names and contact information for a BC Indigenous partner community, nation, or organization and three professional referees and that will write support letters on behalf of the applicant. References will only be contacted for shortlisted candidates.

SFU recognizes that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can impact research achievements and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how alternative paths and/or interruptions have had an impact on their career.

All applications should be submitted to:

Nicole S. Berry, Search Chair
Faculty of Health Sciences
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
Email: fhs_recruit@sfu.ca

Applications should be received by September 12, 2023. Screening of applications will commence on September 19^th, 2023. The competition will remain open until the position is filled. Any general inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to Nicole S. Berry, Associate Professor and Chair of Search Committee at fhs_recruit@sfu.ca.

This position is contingent upon the applicant receiving a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair prior to being appointed to a tenure-track or tenured faculty position at SFU. This means that the successful candidate in this search will work with Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences to prepare a nomination package for a Canada Research Chair (please see the Canada Research Chairs website for further details regarding application). After review and approval by the Vice Presidents, Research Office at SFU, the nomination will be submitted to the CRC program, ideally in April 2024. The nomination package will then be evaluated by the CRC program’s external reviewers. Should the applicant be successful at this step, we estimate the earliest start date possible to be October 2024.

Please, also note that the position is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the University Board of Governors and the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS). The Canada Research Chair is tenable for five years and may be renewed once, subject to the Chairholder demonstrating that they have achieved their objectives from their first term. Interested applicants are invited to review the initial appointment and chair renewal details of the CRC Program [link].

SFU is an equity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the University. SFU is committed to ensuring that no individual is denied access to employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability or qualifications. Consistent with this principle, SFU will advance the interests of underrepresented members of the workforce, ensure that equal opportunity is afforded to all who seek employment at the University, and treat all employees equitably. Candidates who belong to equity-deserving groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

SFU offers several benefits and services aimed at creating a more inclusive and accessible campus community for faculty; please see the Faculty Relations, Benefits and Service page for more details. SFU is also committed to ensuring that the application and interview process is accessible to all applicants; if you require accommodations or have questions about SFU benefits, services, accommodations policies, or equity considerations please contact the Specialist, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Faculty Relations.

Under the authority of the University Act, personal information that is required by the University for academic appointment competitions will be collected. For further details see the Collection Notice: http://www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/faculty_openings/collection_notice.html.