SK311 BR1 - Reconciliation and Indigenous- Social Work Relations (Fall 2026)

Faculty/Academic Area: Faculty of Social Work 

Department: BSW Program 

Campus: Brantford 

Employee Group: WLUFA 

Requisition ID: 11816 

Position Title: SK311 BR1 - Resonciliation and Indigenous-Social Work Relations 

Term: Fall 2026 (September 1, 2026– December 30, 2026)

Days/Times: Thursday 11:30 AM - 2:20 PM

Hours per week/Hours Total: 3 hours per week/36 total

Mode of Delivery: In-Person

Type of Instruction: Lecture

Anticipated Class Size: 20-25

Additional Course Requirements:

Posted on: August 20, 2026

Posting ends: August 25, 2026

AI tools will be used in the hiring process: No

Position Summary:

This course provides knowledge for understanding the historic colonial processes that have deeply impacted First Nations communities in Canada, and the role social work has played in those violent dynamics. A central premise of the course is that reconciliation requires an active awareness of this history as part of the process towards decolonizing Canadian institutions, including the profession of social work that is our focus. As such, students will critically look into the past, present, and future of missions (e.g., Christian, Residential Schools, Social Work 60s Scoop) that had the goal of helping Indigenous communities, but more often were central to their disempowerment and resulting social impacts. We are concerned with the problematic relations between Indigenous communities and social work as a means for beginning to consider what healing entails for both the Indigenous survivors of intergenerational trauma and a profession that is implicated in this social violence. To learn about the potential future of our healing profession, we will follow the lead of Indigenous worldviews and experiences as it pertains to understanding this colonizing history and what healing entails. These views will be brought into a dialogue with social work research that has the potential for fostering more respectful relations. Those learners who see themselves working with First Nations, Inuit, and/or Metis communities as a social worker will benefit from the specific decolonizing knowledge and perspectives on healing that this course offers, though a more comprehensive engagement of holistic healing practices will be covered in SK422.

Qualifications – Required Academic Degree: Bachelor’s degree

Qualifications – Required Discipline: Helping professions including fields of psychology, counselling, nursing, social work, teaching, community work, social services and human rights. 

Qualifications – Required Areas of Specialization: This course requires an Indigenous instructor with knowledge of Indigenous healing methodologies and Indigenous worldview; as such, preference will be given to Indigenous candidates. Indigenous candidates are asked to self-identify in their cover letter. 

Qualifications – Required Professional Designation:

Qualifications – Other: Practice experience preferred

Salary: $10,212.40

Application Deadline: August 25, 2026

Submit with Application:

Required for All Applicants

• CV (required)
• Candidate Application Form (CAF)

Required for External Applicants

• Names and Contact Information for Referees
• Evidence of Good Teaching
• Verification of highest degree

Optional

• Cover Letter
• Teaching Dossier
• Sample Course Outline

Note: A Cover Letter is not expected (unless noted as required) as the CAF will include information that is typically included in a Cover Letter.

Applications may be addressed to:

Dr. Jenn Root, PTAC Chair

c/o Melissa Weaver

BSWhires@wlu.ca

To Apply:

Please click the gold “Apply Now” button located on the top right hand side of the page.

You will be asked to sign in if you have already created an account. If you are not a registered user you may create an account to apply to career opportunities. Once an account is created you will be able to sign in to apply for the position.

This appointment is in accordance with the Contract Teaching Faculty and Part-time Librarians Collective Agreement, for which the Wilfrid Laurier Faculty Association (WLUFA) is the exclusive bargaining agent.  All applicants are assessed using both the “Appendix H: Assessment of CTF Candidates under 13.6.1” in the collective agreement and the program specific rubric.  Candidates should review these documents and ensure the information required is easily accessible in the application. 

Please Note:

Assessment of your application will be based primarily on the Candidate Application Form (CAF). The Part-time Appointment Committee is only required to review the CAF, Curriculum Vitae, and any specifically referenced pages in a supplemental document(s) to ensure fair assessment of each candidate.

Candidate Application form (CAF) is used to apply to an individual posting and must be submitted with each application. The completed form is to be uploaded with all other application materials by the deadline listed in the course posting. Refer to Appendix I of the Contract Teaching Faculty Collective Agreement for further guidance about completing the CAF and Appendix H for details on how this form will be scored.

For Supplementary Remuneration for marking and grading allowance, see Article 28.2, and coordination of large classes or multi-section courses, see Article 28.3

Pursuant to Article 13.5 of the Collective Agreement for Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF) and Part-time Librarians, all applicants shall apply electronically. Applications must be received by 23:59 local time of the date on the posting.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Diversity and creating a culture of inclusion is a key pillar of Wilfrid Laurier University’s Strategic Academic Plan and is one of Laurier’s core values. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from qualified members of the equity-deserving groups. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programming at Laurier are welcome to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at indigenous@wlu.ca. Candidates from other equity-deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programming at Laurier are welcome to contract Equity and Accessibility at equity@wlu.ca. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posted in an alternative format, please contact Faculty Relations at FacultyRelations@wlu.ca.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, as per Canadian immigration laws, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Members of the equity-deserving groups must self-identify to the appropriate Dean(s) to be considered for employment equity.

All course offerings will be contingent on adequate student registration and subject to budgetary funding.

Members of the Contract Teaching Faculty bargaining unit:

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online.

All applications shall be reviewed and considered under a set of criteria established by the part-time hiring committee. Only those applicants recommended for a position will be contacted.