[BCMA] Summer Job Opportunities at the Nikkei National Museum

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

 Job Posting Research Assistant – Landscapes of Injustice: Issei Records
and Nikkei Leaders circa 1940s Digitization Project

Two Positions Available
Nikkei National Museum

6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby BC

604 777-7000

Period of employment:  April 28- August 17, 2016 (16 weeks)

Hours:                                    9:30 am – 5pm Tuesday to Saturday

Salary:                                    $15.00 per hour

The mandate of the Nikkei National Museum (NNM) is to honour, preserve and
share Japanese Canadian history and culture for a better Canada. Currently
the collections include more than 20,000 photographs, 450 oral history
recordings, over 25 metres of archival and textual materials, and over 2000
artefacts.


Job description:

The Research Assistants, under direction from the museum staff, will
participate in *Landscapes of Injustice*, a major collections related
research project looking at the dispossession of property from Japanese
Canadians during the Second World War. The Nikkei National Museum is a
community partner on this significant project and in 2016, is in year three
of seven. Year one and two were foundational research years that have
unearthed historically valuable archival records that are crucial to
process for the upcoming year. These records focus on the *issei*, the
first generation Japanese Canadians; and the Nikkei Leaders, those who
extended boundaries, challenged concepts of right and wrong, and
contributed to the development of the Nikkei community in Canada. Exciting
fonds’ includes the Nishihata Family Collection consisting of
correspondence with the Custodian of Enemy Property regarding the family
Sheet Metal Works business at 457 Powell Street; and the Kunio Hidaka fonds
consisting of the Citizenship Defense Committee records who organized the
fight against deportation in 1946. The Research Assistants will identify
collections items of significance to the project, and assist with archival
arrangement, description, and digitization in order to make them accessible
for project scholars. The goal is to add over 1000 descriptions per
position to our online database by the end of 2016.



The *Landscapes of Injustice* Project will focus on archival material
including personal papers, letters, photographs, community directories, as
well as artefacts, related to the history of Japanese Canadians and the
internment years. From 1942-1946, over 22,000 Japanese Canadians were
forcibly removed from the west coast and sent to internment camps in the
interior of BC, or other work camps across Canada. They lost all of their
property, including cars and boats, businesses, and many of their personal
belongings. They also lost access to education and job opportunities. This
is the first in depth study to try and track and quantify the actual losses
to the community.  As part of the training, the Research Assistant will
have a chance to participate in an in-depth Summer Institute offered by the
University of Victoria. The Research Assistants must be organized and
detailed oriented and will perform other related duties as required. The
Assistants will acquire skills in archival arrangement and description,
cataloguing, museum standards and policy, database software, artefact
handling and preservation, acquisition, storage, and research procedures.
They will gain strategic planning, problem solving, and leadership skills
under direction of museum staff. The setting will provide experience in
cultural diversity, working as a team, working collaboratively with other
programs and exhibitions, and the importance of preserving history for
future generations.


Skills required

Student in the field of history, anthropology, museum studies, curatorial
studies or library and archival studies.

Must be a current full-time student between the ages of 16 and 30 and
intend to return to your studies in the fall.

Good level of computer literacy including spreadsheets, database software,
email.

Familiar with the Rules of Archival Description, preservation and
conservation

Fluent in English with excellent writing skills. Japanese language would be
an asset

Knowledge of Canadian History/Japanese Canadian History an asset

Drivers’ license is not required but would be an asset

Candidates will be chosen on the basis of their skill level and ability,
therefore we welcome all applicants regardless of race, gender or
disability.


Applications

Please forward applications with resume by email to:

Sherri Kajiwara - skajiwara at nikkeiplace.org

Applications will be accepted until April 13th.

POSITION IS DEPENDENT ON GRANT FUNDING

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected
for an interview will be contacted.
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