Lakehead University (Orillia, Ontario, Canada)

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Appointment

Indigenous Language Revitalization

Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin on July 6, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

Faculty of Education

Reference # EDUC-2026-27-01

Lakehead University, Orillia Campus, invites applications for one tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the general area of Indigenous Language Revitalization within Keewatinase (Department of Indigenous Education), which is part of the Faculty of Education, The academic rank of the appointment will be commensurate with the qualifications of the successful candidate. The position will commence on September 1, 2026.

About Keewatinase (Department of Indigenous Education)

Keewatinase, the Department of Indigenous Education, is undergoing a transformational process to better reflect traditional Indigenous ways of doing, being, and seeing. The department offers programs in elementary and secondary teacher education and delivers one of the longest-running Indigenous language teacher education programs in the country. Grounded in a philosophy of ‘learning by doing’, Keewatinase strives to serve as a model for Indigenous teacher education through its programming and organizational culture. This position will involve close collaboration with Keewatinase faculty and staff and will play an important role in shaping the department’s future direction. 

Keewatinase is currently led by Anishinaabeg scholar, Dr. Paul Cormier, and plays a critical role in Indigenous initiatives across the Faculty of Education and Lakehead University. The department is committed to fostering a supportive, community-oriented environment that reflects Indigenous values and encourages a family-focused culture for students, faculty, and staff. The department is involved in a number of Indigenous community-based initiatives, including the delivery of teacher training programs in partnership with Indigenous communities and the delivery of Aki-based courses and programs. The department continues to be actively engaged with school boards across Northwestern and Simcoe County within Ontario and is especially concerned with language preservation, revitalization, and language learning. 

In 2021, the department participated in a traditional ceremony where spirit helpers were called in to guide the ongoing transformational work of Keewatinase and its programs. During the ceremony, a turtle from Anishinaabe Gichigami (Lake Superior) shared the name Anishinaabemowik for the language programs. The ceremony emphasized the strength and importance of women as carriers of life, love, teaching, and knowledge. Anishinaabemowik is understood as a female spirit, reflected in the “k” ending of the name. Keewatinase, with assistance from Anishinaabemowik, offers language-focused courses and programs, as well as a language specialization, within the Keewatinase Indigenous Teachers Education Program. 

This position will contribute to the ongoing relational and community-based work of language immersion and revitalization within the department, faculty, and Lakehead University. Keewatinase is actively involved in several initiatives, including the Anishinaabamowin Boodwee language revitalization initiative, partnerships exploring the development of a language immersion degree program, advocacy work with the Office for the Commission for Indigenous Languages, and international collaborations grounded in Indigenous language and knowledge revitalization. The successful candidate is expected to contribute to these initiatives through a research agenda grounded in Indigenous language revitalization, reciprocity, and community relationships. 

Qualifications

The department is seeking candidates with a PhD in Indigenous Education or a related discipline, a demonstrated commitment to Indigenous language learning and community-based revitalization, and a demonstrated ability to teach courses at the BEd and MEd levels. PhD candidates who are nearing completion are encouraged to apply. 

Keewatinase encourages applications from First Nation, Métis and Inuit scholars, educators, and language practitioners connected to the communities and territories surrounding the Orillia and Thunder Bay campuses. Fluency or first-language knowledge of an Indigenous language is considered a strong asset; however, the department also recognizes the importance of candidates who are actively engaged in language learning and community-based language work. Experience with experiential learning and online or alternative modes of delivery is highly desired, as well as a connection to Indigenous language learning communities.

The successful candidate will:

• Have demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with Indigenous communities, including Elders, language speakers, and language teachers.
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience in working with Indigenous language(s) with a focus on immersion and revitalization.
• Have established connections with school boards and Indigenous communities involved in language immersion and/or revitalization.
• Be familiar with community-based language immersion and revitalization approaches and methodologies with an understanding on the differences between classroom Indigenous language teaching and Indigenous community-based approaches to language immersion.
• Have relevant experience in collaborative, community-based research, land-based learning approaches, and their importance in Indigenous language immersion and revitalization.

In accordance with the Lakehead University Faculty Association Collective Agreement (LUFA 25.02.02 (B)), candidates who do not hold a doctorate degree may be considered where exceptional scholarly, creative, professional, or community-based experiences and accomplishments compensate for lesser degree qualifications . Similarly, in line with Indigenous values and practices that support Indigenous ways of doing, being, and seeing, consideration will be given to candidates with significant experience working with Indigenous communities. This would include any combination of experience related to developing Indigenous community-based projects or initiatives, such as: establishing long-term working relationships with Chiefs, Councils, Elders, language speakers, or Indigenous organizations; leading community initiatives related to language revitalization, education, governance, or capacity building; securing funding outside of the normally accepted traditional academic ‘research’ funding sources (e.g. Tri-Council Funding); or demonstrating Indigenous traditional knowledge, including how that knowledge was learned and how it may contribute to the department, its programs, and broader community relationships.

Compensation

The expected compensation range for this position is:

• Assistant Professor: $88,094 - $133,223 

Salary will be determined in accordance with the collective agreement and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. Our campuses are located in Thunder Bay on the traditional lands of the Fort William First Nation, Signatory to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850 and in Orillia on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, and Rama First Nation. Lakehead University acknowledges the history that many nations hold in the areas around our campuses and is committed to a relationship with Métis, Inuit and First Nations peoples. Lakehead has approximately 10,000 students and 2,160 faculty and staff. With an emphasis on collaborative learning and independent critical thinking, and a multidisciplinary teaching approach, Lakehead offers a variety of degree and diploma programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels through its nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Health and Behavioural Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Science and Environmental Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities, Graduate Studies, and Law. For further information, please visit: www.lakeheadu.ca.

For further information, please contact Dr. Wayne Melville, Dean Faculty of Education at dean.educ@lakeheadu.ca. Detailed information on the Faculty of Education and our programs is available at: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/education

Review of applications will begin on July 6, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The electronic application (in the form of one PDF document) quoting Reference # EDUC-2026-27-01 should include: 

• a letter of interest,
• curriculum vitae,
• evidence of teaching effectiveness (including a statement of teaching philosophy, course outlines and teaching evaluations for previously-taught courses),
• a statement of a research plan (current and future interests),
• copies of the three most significant publications,
• the names and contact information of three references,
• And a completed Confirmation of Eligibility to Work in Canada.pdf form must accompany your package. 

Applicants are to submit their electronic application quoting the above reference number to:

Attn: Dr. Wayne Melville, Dean

Faculty of Education

Lakehead University

955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E1

Email: aadean.educ@lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including women, racialized persons, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and other equity-seeking groups. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. This is in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements. 

Lakehead University has an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2019-2024 with a goal to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as measured by increasing representation of under-represented groups among applicants, candidates and hires. We encourage candidates to self-identify, if you are from an under-represented group, and prefer candidates with the knowledge, competencies and relationships derived from lived experience. Experience working with Indigenous or racialized communities, and/or members of other equity-deserving groups is a strong asset. A lived experience or worked experience of any of these issues is preferred.

We appreciate your interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be notified. Lakehead University is committed to supporting an accessible environment. Applicants requiring accommodation during the interview process should contact the Office of Human Resources at (807) 343.8010 ext. 8334 or human.resources@lakeheadu.ca to make appropriate arrangements.

This position is subject to budgetary approval.