Job Description
First Nations, Métis & Inuit Student Association (FNMISA) Assistant
(Temporary, Student, Part-Time)
The Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) is a not-for-profit organization that represents all Undergraduate Students at Simon Fraser University (SFU). The SFSS provides our members with a broad range of advocacy work, services, and events. The vision of the SFSS is students thriving everywhere and is realized through our support of students to reach their full potential- by providing resources and services that represent, connect and benefit our membership.
The Simon Fraser Student Society is an equal opportunity employer. The SFSS is committed to making a sustained effort in recruiting, nominating, and supporting skilled candidates who have a commitment to equality and justice, and we encourage applications from women, Black, Indigenous, and members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, and members of LGBTQ+, cultural, religious and linguistic communities. This is a temporary, student, part-time (up to 28 hours weekly) position and is included in the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3338-5 at a wage rate of $20.29 per hour with additional benefits as defined in the Collective Agreement.
Position Summary
In order to support our Indigenous students, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit backgrounds, we are looking for an FNMISA Assistant. The FNMISA believes in a decolonized university, and that Indigenous students hold the knowledge and passion necessary to foment the changes to create such an institution. This position will be expected to collaboratively work with the FNMISA Constituency group membership to execute on the mandate of services, events, and other tasks as assigned throughout the FNMISA Space in the SFSS Student Union Building (SUB) on the SFU campus on Burnaby Mountain.
The FNMISA Assistant helps support and assist in the delivery of programs, activities and services in the FNMISA space.
The SFSS shall not negatively discipline any Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) staff member for any social or academic advocacy positions taken by the FNMISA Executives or the FNMISA membership. FNMISA and the assistant hired shall be deemed as separate and distinct from FNMISA just so that no disciplinary actions are taken against the staff person as a result of any collective action, taken by the FNMISA Executive and/or membership. However, FNMISA must serve as the body that guides the types of services, resources, and advocacy support that is offered by the FNMISA Office housed in the Student Union Building. This shall in no way preclude or prevent FNMISA from engaging in collective action, and engaging in social or academic advocacy as the FNMISA membership and Executives sees fit.
Background
The FNMISA’s purposes are to provide a variety of support functions to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) students, to support and preserve the various cultural diversities of FNMI peoples, to advocate for services and resources necessary, to promote increased awareness of FNMI cultures and issues to the Simon Fraser University Community, to disseminate information deemed to be of interest to FNMI members and the public at large in regard to FNMI service and issues, to respond in a responsible and lawful manner to any negative stereotypical images of FNMI peoples within the media of Simon Fraser University or media in the community at large, and to engage with other student societies and the Simon Fraser administration to facilitate the above purposes.
Indigenous students struggle day to day with a variety of forces, but the challenges they face are always matched by the strength inherited from their ancestors. Our vision is one of an empowered, united, healing, internal community of Indigenous students - supported materially, emotionally, and culturally on their own terms. From this internal community, bonds of solidarity with the larger student body at Simon Fraser University can be created. It’s from this solidarity that reconciliation will develop in a meaningful and holistic way, and this is what the FNMISA strives to facilitate through its programming, advocacy, and support for SFU’s Indigenous students.
Working Relationships: The FNMISA Assistant works closely with and receives guidance from FNMISA President, and reports to Catherine Affleck the Services Lead.
Duties/Responsibilities
- Assist in supporting a welcoming space for SFSS’s Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) students;
- Provide assistance for FNMISA student gatherings, cultural events, and other culturally relevant activities hosted by the FNMISA;
- Support the work of the FNMISA Executives of the SFSS where necessary;
- Liaison with SFSS departments and services, as necessary;
- Assist FNMISA assigned office space with ordering supplies;
- Assist with scheduling meetings, room booking, catering and room set-up of the FNMISA, in its space or in other locations;
- Support special events, outreach, and workshops within FNMISA and Indigenous Students;
- Other duties as assigned and required.
Qualifications
- Lived experience as a self-identifying First Nations, Métis, or Inuit person;
- Experience with Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) communities is a definite asset;
- Experience in peer support programming, mutual aid, or marginalized community empowerment initiatives;
- Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills;
- Excellent interpersonal and communication (both verbal and written) skills;
- Ability to work within broad parameters, competing deadlines/priorities, and with frequent interruptions;
- Ability to exercise discretion, initiative and diplomacy;
- Ability to work within the established policies and processes;
- Proficient in the use of standard office applications
Assets
- Understanding of intersectionality and social justice;
- Considerable understanding and knowledge of anti-Indigenous racism and systemic discrimination as it relates to anti-Black racism, classism, anti-Asian racism, ableism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia.
Applications must be received no later than 5:00 PM (PST) on February 28, 2026.
Applicants must be available to work during regular office hours (9:00 am - 4:30pm) from Monday to Friday, with occasional afternoons, evenings, and weekends.
