Assistant Professor - Indigenous Education - Faculty of Education - Three-Year Term Appointment
About the role
The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is located on Epekwitk, part of the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaw nation. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship signed in 1725, which recognize Mi'kmaw title and establish the ongoing relationship between the Mi'kmaw nation and the Crown. We are all treaty people and acknowledge that we carry out our daily work in Mi’kma’ki.
The Faculty of Education at the University of Prince Edward Island invites applications from qualified candidates for a 3-year term position beginning June 1, 2026, and no later than September 2026, pending budgetary approval.
The Faculty of Education is committed to developing caring, compassionate, and innovative teachers. We offer 12-month Bachelor of Education programs in English and French with specializations in Indigenous and International Education; a Master of Education in course-based and thesis-based streams, and a PhD in Educational Studies. All programs have a strong focus on issues pertaining to decolonization, diversity, equity, and social justice in local and global communities.
We welcome and encourage Mi’kmaq and Indigenous Peoples with varied lived experiences, professional, and/or scholarly activities related to K – 12 education to apply. We welcome applications from Elders and Knowledge Keepers with experience in research, teaching/mentoring, and community engagement, with or without formal post-secondary credentials; individuals with substantial community and/or professional experience in combination with a graduate degree (i.e., Master ' s-level in education); and applicants who hold standard academic qualifications (i.e., Doctoral-level in education).
Consider applying if you have a BEd, a graduate degree, or a professional designation in education with extensive experience and knowledge of Mi’kmaw/Indigenous learners and pedagogy. Equivalences such as a combination of coursework, community engagement, and/or policy and program development will be considered.
Required Qualifications:
- Knowledge of Indigenous history, languages, traditions, worldviews, ancestral teachings, and ceremonies.
- Evidence of or demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching and will have demonstrated knowledge in the exploration of Indigenous pedagogical practices.
- Direct experience working with and in Indigenous community-based engagement and/or research.
- Direct experience working with children/youth in formal or informal educational settings.
- Preference will be given to a candidate with a Bachelor of Education degree, in addition to a completed graduate degree.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience working with and in Mi’kma’q communities
- Five plus years of sustained, community-recognized experience in teaching Netukulimk or land-based learning in K – 12 settings
- Mi’kmaw language is an asset
- Preference will be given to a candidate with a Bachelor of Education who has completed or is completing a Master's or Doctoral degree.
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities will include teaching at the undergraduate level in the Bachelor of Education program and graduate level courses in our Master of Education program, service, and research congruent with the Faculty at UPEI. The appointee will need to establish links with various local Mi’kmaq communities, agencies, and PEI schools working in this area.
Candidates are required to state their Indigenous status in the application, and proof of such is required as part of the hiring process.
Application Instructions:
Applicants should submit a letter of application outlining their experience and connection to the community, current curriculum vitae, and a teaching dossier/portfolio (may include a teaching philosophy statement, samples of course outlines, teaching evaluations, or any other teaching artifacts), and three letters of reference to:
Karen Anne O’Halloran, Administrative Assistant to the Dean, at kohalloran@upei.ca
Or mailed to:
Faculty of Education
University of Prince Edward Island
550 University Avenue
Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3
Telephone (902) 566-0349
UPEI is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation and believes in providing a positive learning and working environment where every person feels empowered to contribute.
UPEI is committed to the principle of equity in employment and encourages applications from underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.
In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.
Closing date is February 20, 2026; however, the competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.
About University of Prince Edward Island
Established in 1969, the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is a comprehensive public liberal arts university in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, with roots in its founding institutions, Prince of Wales College (est. 1834) Saint Dunstan's University (est. 1855).
The only university in the province, UPEI offers a wide range of programs and degrees within the faculties of Arts; Business; Education; Graduate Studies; Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies; Nursing; Science; Sustainable Design Engineering; and Veterinary Medicine. Home to Canada Research Chairs, a UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability, endowed and sponsored research chairs, and 3M National Teaching Fellows, UPEI comprises a community of talented and dedicated faculty and staff who provide exceptional learning experiences to Canadian and international students under their tutelage.
In addition to its main campus in Charlottetown, UPEI has established the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation in St. Peter's Bay, PEI. The University also has an international campus in Cairo, Egypt, offering degrees in business administration, mathematical and computational sciences, and sustainable design engineering. It also has postsecondary exchange programs with universities in numerous countries. As well, post-secondary students in Asia, Africa, and Europe can earn certain UPEI degrees, based on the University's curriculum and rigorous educational standards, while living in their home countries.
With millions of dollars in scholarships, international exchange and experiential learning opportunities, expanding professional and graduate programs, and outstanding student-faculty interaction, UPEI offers students an educational experience designed to help them reach their potential as future leaders.
The interim President and Vice-Chancellor is Dr. Greg Keefe. The Chancellor is the Honourable Catherine Callbeck.
Assistant Professor - Indigenous Education - Faculty of Education - Three-Year Term Appointment
About the role
The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is located on Epekwitk, part of the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaw nation. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship signed in 1725, which recognize Mi'kmaw title and establish the ongoing relationship between the Mi'kmaw nation and the Crown. We are all treaty people and acknowledge that we carry out our daily work in Mi’kma’ki.
The Faculty of Education at the University of Prince Edward Island invites applications from qualified candidates for a 3-year term position beginning June 1, 2026, and no later than September 2026, pending budgetary approval.
The Faculty of Education is committed to developing caring, compassionate, and innovative teachers. We offer 12-month Bachelor of Education programs in English and French with specializations in Indigenous and International Education; a Master of Education in course-based and thesis-based streams, and a PhD in Educational Studies. All programs have a strong focus on issues pertaining to decolonization, diversity, equity, and social justice in local and global communities.
We welcome and encourage Mi’kmaq and Indigenous Peoples with varied lived experiences, professional, and/or scholarly activities related to K – 12 education to apply. We welcome applications from Elders and Knowledge Keepers with experience in research, teaching/mentoring, and community engagement, with or without formal post-secondary credentials; individuals with substantial community and/or professional experience in combination with a graduate degree (i.e., Master ' s-level in education); and applicants who hold standard academic qualifications (i.e., Doctoral-level in education).
Consider applying if you have a BEd, a graduate degree, or a professional designation in education with extensive experience and knowledge of Mi’kmaw/Indigenous learners and pedagogy. Equivalences such as a combination of coursework, community engagement, and/or policy and program development will be considered.
Required Qualifications:
- Knowledge of Indigenous history, languages, traditions, worldviews, ancestral teachings, and ceremonies.
- Evidence of or demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching and will have demonstrated knowledge in the exploration of Indigenous pedagogical practices.
- Direct experience working with and in Indigenous community-based engagement and/or research.
- Direct experience working with children/youth in formal or informal educational settings.
- Preference will be given to a candidate with a Bachelor of Education degree, in addition to a completed graduate degree.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience working with and in Mi’kma’q communities
- Five plus years of sustained, community-recognized experience in teaching Netukulimk or land-based learning in K – 12 settings
- Mi’kmaw language is an asset
- Preference will be given to a candidate with a Bachelor of Education who has completed or is completing a Master's or Doctoral degree.
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities will include teaching at the undergraduate level in the Bachelor of Education program and graduate level courses in our Master of Education program, service, and research congruent with the Faculty at UPEI. The appointee will need to establish links with various local Mi’kmaq communities, agencies, and PEI schools working in this area.
Candidates are required to state their Indigenous status in the application, and proof of such is required as part of the hiring process.
Application Instructions:
Applicants should submit a letter of application outlining their experience and connection to the community, current curriculum vitae, and a teaching dossier/portfolio (may include a teaching philosophy statement, samples of course outlines, teaching evaluations, or any other teaching artifacts), and three letters of reference to:
Karen Anne O’Halloran, Administrative Assistant to the Dean, at kohalloran@upei.ca
Or mailed to:
Faculty of Education
University of Prince Edward Island
550 University Avenue
Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3
Telephone (902) 566-0349
UPEI is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation and believes in providing a positive learning and working environment where every person feels empowered to contribute.
UPEI is committed to the principle of equity in employment and encourages applications from underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.
In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.
Closing date is February 20, 2026; however, the competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.
About University of Prince Edward Island
Established in 1969, the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is a comprehensive public liberal arts university in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, with roots in its founding institutions, Prince of Wales College (est. 1834) Saint Dunstan's University (est. 1855).
The only university in the province, UPEI offers a wide range of programs and degrees within the faculties of Arts; Business; Education; Graduate Studies; Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies; Nursing; Science; Sustainable Design Engineering; and Veterinary Medicine. Home to Canada Research Chairs, a UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability, endowed and sponsored research chairs, and 3M National Teaching Fellows, UPEI comprises a community of talented and dedicated faculty and staff who provide exceptional learning experiences to Canadian and international students under their tutelage.
In addition to its main campus in Charlottetown, UPEI has established the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation in St. Peter's Bay, PEI. The University also has an international campus in Cairo, Egypt, offering degrees in business administration, mathematical and computational sciences, and sustainable design engineering. It also has postsecondary exchange programs with universities in numerous countries. As well, post-secondary students in Asia, Africa, and Europe can earn certain UPEI degrees, based on the University's curriculum and rigorous educational standards, while living in their home countries.
With millions of dollars in scholarships, international exchange and experiential learning opportunities, expanding professional and graduate programs, and outstanding student-faculty interaction, UPEI offers students an educational experience designed to help them reach their potential as future leaders.
The interim President and Vice-Chancellor is Dr. Greg Keefe. The Chancellor is the Honourable Catherine Callbeck.