200 - Métis Heritage Centre Curator

About the Role

The Centre is looking for an independent, self-motivated curator for its soon-to-open permanent facility in Sault Ste. Marie, ON. The Centre, in a Métis-owned heritage building in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, includes permanent and temporary exhibitions, public program space, a children’s area, and boardroom. The building is immediately adjacent to a multi-purpose community-use facility. As our preferred candidate, you are a dedicated, collaborative professional with experience working with communities, managing collections, creating exhibitions and other public experiences for diverse audiences. You are a creative, compassionate leader with strong project management and communications skills and we can’t wait to meet you!

You will be responsible for the full cycle of day-to-day activities in the Centre’s main exhibition building in a refurbished historic church. This includes the design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of the Centre’s exhibits, as well as acquiring, maintaining, and sharing the Centre’s archives, collections, and collections information within and beyond Sault Ste. Marie. Your duties encompass full business cycle budgeting, resource procurement, volunteer training and management, project management, the maintenance of industry standards, reporting, and public presentations (oral and written) regarding the Heritage Centre and its activities. You organize the setup and tear down of exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, develop and run public programs, contribute to the Centre’s website, and handle ancestral object movement, cataloging, research, and other curatorial tasks.

What you will be doing

As the Sault Ste. Marie Métis Heritage Centre Curator, you are the Centre’s museological professional and its principal spokesperson on museum-related issues. You create and manage project ideation, development, and execution, and assist in marketing, fundraising, and public relations.

• You plan and curate exhibitions, and install and remove exhibitions and their associated elements, including interactives;
• You develop and maintain collections, ensuring proper documentation and storage;
• You conduct research and write historical, informational, or promotional texts;
• You conduct audience and project research and evaluation, and implement findings;
• You manage term or contract staff and manage non-staff in running the Centre;
• You collaborate in developing educational programs or public events;
• You support marketing, fundraising, and donor development;
• You represent the organization online, at public events, and in the media;
• You communicate regularly with the Board, the Métis community, and stakeholders;
• You develop and adhere to standard museum-related policies and procedures;
• You spearhead the Centre’s museum accreditation application in Ontario;
• You develop long-term plans, including traveling exhibits;
• You develop and maintain effective partnerships; and
• You advise on long-term collections storage solutions.
• You assist with other community initiatives, including Métis Tours, by supervising administrative support for the promotion and scheduling of tours.
• Collaborating with other staff – event coordinators, educational advocates, etc.

Qualifications

You are an experienced museum professional with a broad background in working in a community cultural setting. You share an enthusiasm for the Centre’s cultural role and the history and experience of the Métis Nation of Ontario, and you are a highly capable communicator, bridge builder, and advocate. You are an inspiring, motivating force in your sector and you will establish the Heritage Centre as a centre of cultural and interpretive excellence. Specific aptitudes include:

• Experience working in a curatorial role in a museum or similar institution, with an emphasis on exhibit design and fabrication;
• Proficiency with standard technologies and software (e.g., Microsoft suite, databases, collections data management);
• Project leadership and planning skills, including project management of exhibitions;
• Experience working with and motivating volunteers;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Board and community reporting experience, and experience with public audit;
• Administrative and resource management experience, including complex budgets;
• The ability to inspire and motivate others; and
• The capacity to manage multiple projects and time assignments at the same time
• Three or more years working full-time in a curatorial or closely related position;
• A Master’s level degree or very close equivalent in museology, history, Indigenous studies, or a closely related field;
• Lived experience of working with community-based organizations and projects;
• Excellent organizational and communications skills; and
• Three professional references, including one from a responsible community representative with knowledge of your relationship building skills.

Preferred

We would consider the following assets to be highly useful in your candidature and we might ask you to speak to these.

• Technical degrees, diplomas, or certificates pursuant to the work (e.g., project management, carpentry, or graphic design);
• Experience working in a repurposed heritage building;
• Educational experience at any level;
• A publishing and/or public communications record;
• Knowledge of Métis history, heritage, and contemporary experience;
• Knowledge of regional history and culture, including local Indigenous history and culture;
• Experience working with BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ communities in a museum context;
• 5-7 years or more experience in a similar/comparable role

Positions at the MNO may require the following:

1. Current CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain
2. Completion and maintenance of Vulnerable Sector Verification
3. A reliable vehicle (or ability to rent), driver’s licence, $1,000,000 liability insurance, and a clean driving record
4. Flexibility to work extended hours as necessary
5. Ability to occasionally travel within Ontario for limited periods of time

ABOUT THE CENTRE:

What is the Sault Ste. Marie Métis Heritage Centre? 

A three-building complex built on the site of an historic Métis cemetery, sold by the Hudson Bay Company to the Anglican Diocese in 1900. The Church was built in 1901, the Hall in 1919, and the Rectory in 1965. Métis graves were dug up and reburied under the steps of the Hall. When the Diocese closed the parish in 2017, the land and buildings were returned to the Métis Community in an act of “tangible reconciliation.”   Renovations to the Rectory were completed in 2021. Renovations to the Hall and Church began in 2022 and will complete in summer 2024. 

The Rectory: has been converted to a full accessible Program and Service Hub and serves as a central access point for the frontline social service programs offered by the Métis Nation of Ontario. 

The Community Hall: upon completion, the community hall will provide a space for community gatherings, ceremonies, feasts, celebrations, membership meetings, neighbourhood organizing, and community programming. With a capacity of 130 and a full- service kitchen, the hall will be perfectly suited to the needs of the Historic Sault Ste. Marie Métis Community.

Sault Ste. Marie Métis Heritage Centre (SSMMCC): upon completion in summer 2024, The SSMMHC will be the first of its kind in Ontario, serving as a beacon of Métis history and culture. On opening day, visitors will be greeted with an impressive collection that features over 500 ancestral objects, hundreds of photographs, and nearly 100 hours of oral history recordings. Additionally, there are 1,000 documents of historical significance that highlight the rich story of the Sault Ste. Marie Métis Community and the wider Métis Nation. The Heritage Centre promises an immersive experience for all, featuring three thoughtfully curated exhibit spaces. Attendees can explore a permanent display dedicated to the history of the Métis Village in Sault Ste. Marie, a commemorate of the landmark Powley Case, and a space for temporary exhibits that will showcase evolving aspects of Métis culture and heritage. In a remarkable step towards inclusivity, the SSMMHC has also launched a cutting-edge virtual museum platform. The innovative initiative enables accessibility beyond geographical boundaries, allowing local community members, students, tourists, and curious minds worldwide to delve into the Métis story from the comfort of their homes. Moreover, the SSMMHC will serve as a creative hub for Métis arts and culture through its dedicated makers’ space. This area will host workshops and provide materials for traditional Métis crafts such as beadwork, sewing, weaving, carving, and quillwork. In addition, the Centre includes the “Lil River Lot” Early Learning Space, a reading and research room, a boardroom, and a charming gift shop showcasing local Métis art and culturally relevant products. Significant investments have been made by the Métis Nation of Ontario and Heritage Canada. 

Green Space: in the half-acre courtyard space between the three buildings, the Historic Sault Ste. Marie Métis Council has secured funding from the Algoma Community Foundation to create an outdoor space for events in the summertime. The green space will feature park benches and picnic tables and a portable stage to host outdoor events and concerts.