Indigenous Storyteller in Residence - Prince Rupert Public Library

The Prince Rupert Library is excited to announce its first Indigenous Storyteller in Residence program. This initiative seeks to honour local Indigenous culture and add to the actions we continually strive to make towards decolonizing our practices and centring Indigenous knowledge systems. It is the intention of the program to promote intercultural understanding and communication through storytelling that may take form in any number of different mediums, be it oral, writing, visual art, music, or other formats both traditional and contemporary. This residency is open to all Indigenous storytellers with strong community connections to Lax Kxeen, Prince Rupert and its surrounding area who wish to share their knowledge and history.

The Indigenous Storyteller in Residence position is full-time and will run from September 2025 to December 2025.

This 35 hour per week role requires 50 percent of the Storyteller's time be spent on library programs or projects, with the remaining 50 percent of the time for working on the Resident's personal creative project.

If you are:

•An Indigenous storyteller - be it artist, writer, or performer - in any medium including digital media, print, carving, music, or theatre etc. and live or have strong community connections to Prince Rupert or our surrounding area (including but not limited to Metlakata, Lax Kw'alaams, Hartley Bay, or Kitkatla)

•Enthusiastic about developing, presenting, and sharing your knowledge and culture through events at the Prince Rupert Library and in community

•Available on a full-time basis in Prince Rupert from September 1, 2025 to December 12, 2025

In addition to storytelling and public speaking experience the ideal candidate will:

•Work independently and as part of a team with library staff

•Comfortably interact with members of Prince Rupert Library's diverse membership, which includes people of all ages

Main responsibilities of the Storyteller in Residence:

•Develop a unique and culturally relevant personal project that can be shared with the Prince Rupert Library community. This may be shared in a number of ways including through performance, social media, the library collection, a visual exhibit, or more.

Wap Liitsx - House of Reading

•Spend time developing their own story material or project.

•Lead compelling and informative events or other relevant programs to share their story and culture with Library patrons and in the community through outreach initiatives.

Compensation: $10,000 to $15,000 for 14 weeks at 35 hours per week on a self-employed basis. September 2025 to December 2025

How to Apply:

Expressions of interest can be emailed to mercedes@princerupertlibrary.ca or mailed to:

Mercedes Taylor

Acting Chief Librarian

Prince Rupert Library

101 6th Ave West

Prince Rupert BC V8J 1Y9

Please include:

•A resume or CV outlining your relevant qualifications and experience

•A cover letter explaining your experience

•A brief description of the creative project you intend to pursue

•A brief outline of the library programming you would like to offer, and how it will engage library patrons and aspiring storytellers

•How your Residency will make a lasting contribution to the Prince Rupert Library and our community

•Contact information for three references

Prince Rupert Public Library

Employment Opportunity

101 6th Ave. West, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1Y9

Phone: 250-627-1345

E-mail: info@princerupertlibrary.ca

www.princerupertlibrary.ca