Summer Student - Creating, and Sharing

The summer student will support research and analysis that strengthens the program’s alignment with Indigenous worldviews, multi‑nation realities, and community driven approaches to arts and cultural expression. The work will contribute to program development, outreach planning, and improved tools for Indigenous applicants. The work will include the gathering of stories from First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists and arts organizations which will contribute to program development, outreach planning, and improved tools for Indigenous applicants.

Under the supervision of the Program Manager for Creating, Knowing and Sharing:
The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, the summer student will:

• Organize and analyze CKS program data to identify:
  • Types of artistic and cultural practices submitted by applicants
  • Emerging patterns that can inform new terminology grounded in Indigenous worldviews and languages
  • Opportunities to move away from generic “Indigenous arts” classifications toward more culturally respectful and self‑determined forms of expression.
  • Collect stories of impact of Indigenous individuals, groups, collectives and organizations funded by the CKS program and partnerships
  • Storytelling for demonstrating impact of the CKS program
• Review and analyze guidelines from other Indigenous‑focused funding programs (including those from the Indigenous Funders Partnership Table and the Canadian Public Arts Funders Network), with attention to:
  • Inclusive language reflecting Indigenous Peoples and multi‑nation contexts
  • Program objectives
  • Eligibility criteria
  • Potential areas of alignment or gaps that could inform updates to the Creating, Knowing and Sharing (CKS) program.
• Map Indigenous‑focused outreach activities previously undertaken by the Council, including:
  • Geographic distribution (urban, rural, remote)
  • Types of artistic and cultural practices represented
  • Events attended, their scope, recurrence, and targeted Indigenous communities
  • Council’s role in past activities
  • Identification of additional key Indigenous events, conferences, and gatherings across sectors (e.g., education, health, economic development, tourism) to support future relationship building strategies.

• Gain practical experience applying qualitative and quantitative research methods to real‑world reporting and analysis.
• Access a rich body of on‑the‑ground information about arts granting, the arts ecology, and the complex relationships between funders, arts organizations, and other sectors of civil society.
• Contribute to the Council’s capacity to monitor and support cross‑sectoral partnerships between stakeholders and broader civil society.
• Build a deeper understanding of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis arts and cultural contexts, and gain firsthand experience working within the Indigenous team at the Canada Council for the Arts.

This program is intended for students. To be considered, you must:

• Currently be enrolled as a full‑time student at a recognized post‑secondary institution;
• Be enrolled as a part‑time or full‑time student in the next academic year (proof will be required);
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a student with a valid study permit (for international students);
• Meet the basic requirements of the positions.
• Be enrolled in post‑secondary studies at a college or university.

The duration of employment for the Summer Student Program is sixteen (16) weeks. Students will start work on May 11, 2026.

• MS Word
• MS Excel
• MS Power Point
• MS Teams
• MS Outlook

• Interpersonal
• Initiative
• Data Analysis
• Organisation and Coordination
• Research

The use of both official languages is not a requirement but would be an asset.