Practicum

Help organizations manage their under-utilized archives by assessing, sorting, and cataloguing materials using Indigenous data management principles. Our students also help stabilize the condition of deteriorating materials and determine how to organize them safely and securely.

Past examples

• Prepared historical documents for online access for the Union of BC Indian Chiefs Resource Centre and authored interpretive materials
• Established a multimedia historical archive about the 1981-82 Constitution Express movement and contributed to the collections at the Union of BC Indian Chiefs Resource Centre
• Catalogued audiotapes to document an important historical event and compare findings with how the event was represented in the press
• Documented the work in Coast Salish anthropology of a retired anthropologist for the UBC Museum of Anthropology and the Musqueam Indian Band

Many archival projects also contain an interviewing component, as documentary or archival work often leads to new research directions. You can also concentrate on interviewing as the primary methodology and build archival research into the perimeters of the research, filling in gaps and inviting historical perspectives.

Work on oral history projects using audiovisual technologies to document the stories and experiences of people involved in underrepresented histories. Such projects provide significant materials for libraries and archives.

Students within CIS are trained in documenting oral histories and have access to equipment and resources to produce high-quality multimedia projects such as online videos, audio, podcasts, and websites.

Past examples

• Videotaped over 15 interviews with early leaders of the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC to provide a valuable historical archive for the Association
• Worked with the BC Assembly of First Nations to interview community leaders on their attitudes towards self-governance in different communities
• Interviewed Stó:lō community members about their knowledge of salmon in the Fraser River
  

Gain valuable research experience by creating an effective and readable report for an intended audience.

As a student within CIS, you’re uniquely trained in foregrounding Indigenous perspectives in research while incorporating both peer-reviewed and grey literatures. You’ll also have access to hundreds of libraries and databases, many of which are closed behind paywalls.

Reports can include preparing needs assessments for existing organizations or proposals for the development of new or extended organizations. Previous practicum students have delivered literature reviews, analytical reports, guidebooks, and position papers for organizations.

Past examples

• Prepared a needs assessment and recommendations for an Elders in residence program for the Britannia Community Centre
• Documentary research with frontline workers to compile a report on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the incarceration of Aboriginal peoples for the Vancouver Métis Community Association
  

Students have also worked on custom projects that combine the skills above and have produced unique research deliverables including podcasts, curricula, databases, a button blanket, and many more.

There are also opportunities for practicum students to fit into existing research projects under the supervision of experienced researchers. In past projects, former practicum students have:

• Supported a National Film Board project for training young Indigenous filmmakers
• Worked with the Indigenous Health research team at Vancouver Coastal Health to create new ways to measure Indigenous peoples’ healthcare experiences

For these custom projects, practicum partners approach CIS with a project idea based on their research needs and discuss how students might design those projects accordingly. Students working on these projects are involved in the design and strategic implementation of the project.

FNIS will meet with various Indigenous organizations that have expressed interest in working with a practicum student. At this meeting, you’ll have an opportunity to hear about the practicum projects from host organizations.

Following the meeting, you’ll submit a resume and cover letter to the organizations you are most interested in working with. At this stage, organizations will also invite students whom they are interested in working with for an interview.

After the interviews, you'll submit your feedback including your top choices for organizations. Once you have been matched with an organization, you will begin to work on a project proposal.

A percentage of your grade will be based on the completion of several assignments including:

• A resume
• An organizational profile
• Ethics review
• Literature review
• Weekly write-ups

The majority of your practicum will be spent completing the work assigned to you for your host organization. You will also be expected to deliver presentations on your research to the broader community.

Host organizations are invited to write a letter of evaluation at the end of your practicum placement. Practicum instructors will assign a grade based on the letter of evaluation, research project process, research project deliverables, and presentations.

Practicum instructors and TAs work are here to provide you with guidance and support at all stages of the project.

You’ll have ample opportunity to learn from the instructional team, your peers, and subject experts. We build one-on-one support into our weekly meetings and we are available to meet outside of class to problem-solve, write documentation, and plan research.

Community-based research takes a community. While you are the research lead, your work is supported by a community of teachers, librarians, ethics administrators, and your peers.