Sessional Lecturer, MSL2360H - Museums and Indigenous Communities

University of Toronto
Faculty of Information

Sessional Lecturer

Winter Term 2026 (January - April)

MSL2360H - Museums and Indigenous Communities: Changing Relations, Changing Practice

Course Description: This course explores the changing relationships between aboriginal source communities and museums holding their material heritage. We begin with a historical overview of collecting practices, the role of indigenous material culture in the development of museums, and the relationship between museums and colonialism. Contemporary case studies primarily drawn from post-colonial and settler contexts during the last three decades are investigated as a response to earlier practices.

Students are challenged to use these case studies in order to interrogate ideas of the museum as a ‘contact zone’, the shifting meaning of objects, contemporary curatorial challenges, the potential of new museum practices, and source community expectations. Actual exhibitions, repatriation requests and museological dilemmas are used to engage critically with theoretical developments in material culture studies, material anthropology, art history, and indigenous studies.

MSL2360H - Museums and Indigenous Communities: Changing Relations, Changing Practice

Estimate of the course enrolment: 35

Estimate of TA Support: None anticipated. Estimate of 75 hours with enrollment of 36 or greater. Allocation of TA hours, if any, will be based on enrolment numbers. 

Class Schedule: TBD. You are required to be located in geographical proximity to the applicable University premises in order to attend and perform your duties on University premises as of the Starting Date.

Sessional dates of appointment: January 1, 2026 - April 30, 2026

Salary: 
Sessional Lecturer I: $10,300
Sessional Lecturer I Long Term: $10,764
Sessional Lecturer II $11,021
Sessional Lecturer II Long Term: $11,227
Sessional Lecturer III: $11,279
Sessional Lecturer III Long Term: $11,485

Please note that should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Qualifications: Preferably candidates will have a completed, or nearly completed, PhD degree in an area related to the course or a Master’s degree plus extensive professional experience in an area related to the course. Teaching experience is preferred.

Brief description of duties: Preparing course materials; delivering course content (e.g., seminars, lectures, and labs); developing and administering course assignments, tests & exams; grading; holding regular office hours. 

Application Deadline: June 3, 2025

Application Process: Applicants must submit a CV and a completed CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form in one pdf file to the attention of:  

Melissa Szopa, Administrative Coordinator, Academic
Faculty of Information, 140 St. George Street 
University of Toronto
sessional.ischool@utoronto.ca

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement. Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II and Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12.