About Musqueam
We are traditional hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking people. Today, we are a strong, growing community of over 1,300 members. We live on a small portion of our traditional territory, known as the Musqueam Indian Reserve, located south of Marine Drive near the mouth of the Fraser River. The name Musqueam relates back to the River Plant, the name of the plant is məθkʷəy̓. There is a story that has been passed on from generation to generation that explains how we became known as the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) - People of the River Plant. We have always moved throughout our territory using the resources it provides for fishing, hunting, trapping and gathering. We remain distinct and our cultural practices are strong, despite the devastating impacts of residential schools, colonial laws banning our ceremonies, and other attempts to assimilate our people. Our lands and waters continue to support our cultural and economic practices while serving as a source of knowledge and memory, encoded with our teachings and laws. To learn more about Musqueam, please visit www.musqueam.bc.ca
Musqueam and UBC are looking for a Musqueam community member to work as a part time coordinator for the UBC graduate level course: Indigenous Community Planning: Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing (PLAN514).
The course coordinator’s role will be to organize speakers and activities, coordinate logistics such as catering and bookings, and promote and raise awareness about the course to Musqueam members. The course coordinator will work in the Musqueam Lands Governance Office, reporting to the Community Planner.
Keep reading - more information about the course is included at the end of this job description!
About the position
- One Part Time Term position
- Hours: average 10 hours/week, maximum 21 hours/week (dependent on workload), with flexibility (some weekends required)
- Period of employment: August to December 2026 (maximum 26 weeks)
- Pay: $30.00/hour
- Position will remain open until filled.
Responsibilities
- Support the course instructors with overall class preparation and logistics
- Communicate by email, phone, or in person with speakers and knowledge holders
- Arrange catering and space bookings
- Arrange transportation for speakers, knowledge holders, and members
- Create communications materials to share information about the course with Musqueam members (such as newsletter notices, social media posts, website content)
- Provide feedback on written course materials
- Take notes at meetings
- Share reflections and ideas with instructors, including course content and debrief experiences of the job
- Attend all classes and preparation meetings
- Wednesday, Sept 16th - 12:00 - 1:30 pm (at UBC)
- Sunday, September 20 - 9:30 am - 4:00 pm (in Musqueam)
- Sunday, September 27 – 9:30 – 4:00 pm (at UBC)
- Saturday, October 3 - 9:30 - 4:00 pm (in Musqueam)
- Sunday, October 4 - 9:30 - 4:00 pm (at UBC)
- Saturday, Oct 24 - 9:30 - 4:00 pm (in Musqueam)
- Sunday, Oct 25 - 9:30 - 4:00 pm (at UBC)
- Other related duties as required
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Completion of high school or equivalent skills, knowledge, and experience
- Some experience with event or program planning and coordination (can be from past employment, school, or personal)
- Reliable and self-motivated
- Respectful, open listener and clear communicator
- Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times
- Knowledge of Musqueam community and culture
- Passionate about community engagement, and enjoys working with a range of community members (youth, Elders, etc.)
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Willingness to work on weekends to attend classes (as identified on page 1)
- Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines
- Knowledge of Musqueam’s Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP), nə́c̓aʔmat tə šxʷqʷeləwən ct (We Are of One Heart and Mind) and hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ is a strong asset
- Priority for a Musqueam community or band member
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in a classroom environment as well as outdoors
- The role will require working outside regular business hours, including specific weekends
- Confidentiality agreement
About the UBC Indigenous Community Planning course
In partnership with Musqueam Indian Band, the UBC School of Community and Regional Planning co-delivers the Indigenous Community Planning (ICP) program, which is a concentration in the Masters of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP). Students work and learn with Indigenous community members about Indigenous ways of knowing and doing. This concentration attracts both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, from a range of academic and professional backgrounds, who want to work with Indigenous communities. Ten committed students are accepted each year to enter into this concentration.
In the first year of the ICP program, students take the course Indigenous Community Planning: Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing (PLAN 514).
This course includes three land-based learning classes on Musqueam territory between September and December 2026. The majority of these sessions are led by Musqueam knowledge holders in topics such as hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, archaeology, lands governance, stewardship, art, history, rights & title, and how these relate to good community planning. For example, one of the course activities will be a boat tour on the river with MIB Fisheries and Language & Culture departments. Some of the course sessions also involve academics, professionals, and speakers from other First Nations. This year, Musqueam members will be invited to join the course activities with UBC students, to build members’ knowledge and provide more access to college and university learning.
By the end of this course, the course coordinator will facilitate UBC students to have gained a better understanding of and respect for:
- Musqueam knowledge, planning practice, and philosophy
- Indigenous planning, and specifically comprehensive community planning (both in theory and practice)
- Indigenous world views and the possibilities they offer as a basis for decolonizing western planning
- The history of colonization and its ongoing impacts on and within Indigenous communities in what is now known as Canada
Learn more about the UBC Indigenous Community Planning program: https://scarp.ubc.ca/icp
For more information, please contact:
[email protected]