Grace Mirehouse Story Lodge Coordinator

Native Education College (NEC), founded in 1967, is recognized as the largest private Indigenous college in British Columbia. NEC provides a comprehensive educational experience that is deeply rooted in Indigenous culture, empowering students to embrace their roles within their families, communities, and Nations as self-determined Peoples. The college delivers culturally relevant education, training, and career development that honors Indigenous knowledge systems, cultural identity, and traditions. The NEC Learning Centre, Knowledge Centre, Longhouse, Academic Programs, and Campus Services work collaboratively to support students in various aspects: academically, culturally, spiritually, and relationally. This synergy fosters an integrated learning environment that merges formal education with the passing down of Indigenous knowledge and community learning.

Position Overview:

The coordinator plays a vital role in the Grace Mirehouse Story Lodge, a secure space for Indigenous knowledge at NEC that is dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating Indigenous knowledge systems. The Story Lodge promotes critical and cultural thought by focusing on Indigenous perspectives, reflective dialogue, historical awareness, and relational learning, all essential elements of Indigenous education and genocide prevention. Collaborating with the Learning Centre, Knowledge Centre, Program Managers, and the Management Team, this position ensures that storytelling, verbal teachings, and Indigenous knowledge-sharing practices are intentionally incorporated into academic programs, learner support, and institutional learning outcomes. The coordinator assists learners in developing critical thinking skills rooted in Indigenous worldviews, personal experiences, and community responsibilities. This role acknowledges oral, experiential, and community-held knowledge as academically valid and intellectually significant. The Story Space serves as a dedicated learning environment guided by Indigenous protocols, aimed at promoting cultural continuity, academic success, and Indigenous self-determination.

Key Responsibilities:

• Organize and facilitate oral storytelling, spoken teachings, readings, sharing circles, and community discussions that support academic goals and Learning Centre initiatives.
• Collaborate with Program Managers and the Academic Management Team to ensure that Story Space programming aligns with curriculum objectives, learner outcomes, and Indigenous teaching methodologies.
• Work respectfully with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, storytellers, and community members to ethically share Indigenous knowledge in accordance with academic and cultural standards.
• Promote critical and cultural thinking by encouraging reflective dialogue, historical awareness, and Indigenous analytical frameworks in storytelling and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Recognize oral and lived experiences as equally valuable as written and digital materials, integrating these forms of knowledge into academic contexts.
• Animate Story Space as a culturally grounded learning environment that connects relational knowledge with formal education while maintaining academic focus.
• Plan and facilitate programming such as author discussions, teachings from Elders and Knowledge Keepers, language revitalization initiatives, community lectures, and knowledge-sharing workshops, ensuring alignment with academic programs and institutional priorities.
• Ensure the Story Space serves as a venue for Indigenous knowledge transmission and critical engagement, rather than a casual or recreational area.
• Follow Indigenous cultural protocols related to storytelling, listening, consent, and knowledge governance.
• Curate, organize, and maintain resources that support Indigenous knowledge systems, including books, recordings, language resources, community-created content, films, and music, in line with Learning Centre and Knowledge Centre priorities.
• Facilitate access for learners to knowledge.

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