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Research Assistant - School of Journalism

Department: School of Journalism
Position supervisor: Connie Walker
Contract length: Oct 19, 2026 - Dec 18, 2026
Hours of work per week: 10
Position type: OPSEU Research Assistant
Rate of pay: $25/hour

About Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

As an employer, we are working towards a people first culture and are proud to have been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and a Greater Toronto’s Top Employer for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. To learn more about our work environment, colleagues, leaders, students and innovative educational environment, visit www.torontomu.ca, check out @TorontoMet (external link, opens in new window)  and @ECItorontomet (external link, opens in new window)  on X, and visit our LinkedIn company page (external link, opens in new window) .

About the Project

In 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the archive of Indian Residential School Survivors' testimony can be destroyed after September 19, 2027. While living, survivors can opt to preserve their records; many remain unaware of this, or of the imminent deadline to do so, and there is no provision for family members to preserve records of those who have passed. In line with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's position that for reconciliation to happen, "there has to be awareness of the past, acknowledgement of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour" (Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada [2015], Vol. 6, p. 3), this project seeks to consider the possibility of creating a new archive of Survivor testimonies, raise awareness of the existing archive's destruction, and empower Survivors and Indigenous communities to determine how their truths are preserved. The two focus areas of this project are:

  1. Engaging with Survivors and their communities to inform them about the impending destruction of records, which hold information vital to uncovering the lived experience of Indian Residential School Survivors and to potentially identifying missing and disappeared children; creating a podcast on the court case that led to the decision to destroy the records. 
  2. Creating a centralized repository of civil lawsuits (with consent and input from Survivors and communities), enhancing understanding of the scale of past abuses at Indian Residential Schools, and aiding essential legal research and education on policy and law. The initial focus will be on communities across Ontario, developing a framework that can later be shared and adapted for other provinces and territories.

Led by Pulitzer-prize winning Cree journalist Connie Walker (Assistant Professor, TMU School of Journalism) and in partnership with Mohawk legal scholar Kimberly Murray (Associate Professor, Queen’s University Faculty of Law), the Yellowhead Institute and Lincoln Alexander School of Law, the project will: 

  1. Collect publicly-accessible Survivor testimony via pre-settlement statements of claim; 
  2. Develop the framework for a new archive of Survivor testimony with an Indigenous-led and Survivor-centred approach; 
  3. Analyse the Supreme Court decision against legal obligations to preserve historically significant records, Indigenous rights to control access and restriction to data, and international precedents for atrocity archives; 
  4. Raise awareness of the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on research, policy, justice, and reparations; and
  5. Produce an investigative podcast and other knowledge mobilization initiatives.

The Opportunity

This role supports a complex, Survivor-centred research and storytelling project through podcast development and journalism research assistance. Student researchers will contribute to research, story development, and podcast preparation related to the Supreme Court case Canada (Attorney General) v. Fontaine, as well as historical and archival research connected to abuse at select Indian Residential Schools. The journalism research team will work collaboratively alongside the legal research team to support an interdisciplinary and community-accountable approach to the project.

Mentorship, training, and collaborative learning are embedded throughout the role, with a strong emphasis on trauma-informed, consent-based, and ethically grounded research and storytelling practices. The position prioritizes relational, community-informed approaches to journalism and research within a supportive, reflective, and learning-focused environment.

Role Responsibilities:

  • Contribute to research and analysis on core project issues, including Canada (Attorney General) v. Fontaine, archival access and preservation of litigation records, Survivor privacy and consent, statutory and common-law preservation obligations and procedural fairness considerations, and Indigenous data sovereignty principles.
  • Conduct research related to Indian Residential School litigation, in alignment with/complimentary to the work of the legal research team to assist in the production of an investigative podcast.
  • Identify story angles, themes, and supporting sources; preparing briefing notes, timelines and summaries
  • Works within Survivor-informed consent and access protocols for public storytelling and legal record use.
  • Supports interview preparation with TRC leaders and lead complainants in key court decisions with the Project Lead.
  • Translates complex research into accessible public-facing content
  • Collects, organizes, and maintains data and documents in accordance with project data governance and management practices.
  • Engages in trauma-informed journalism practices, including respectful handling of sensitive materials and community-informed approaches to journalism/research.
  • Participates in regular podcast and project team meetings, contributing updates on assigned tasks and identifying questions/challenges as they arise. 
  • Collaborates with other student researchers, adapting to evolving project needs. 

Qualifications

  • Currently enrolled in a Journalism (or related) program with demonstrated interest, experience, and/or research in Indigenous storytelling, justice, human rights, Indigenous history, or civil litigation.
  • Experience conducting background research, fact-checking, and synthesizing complex information into accessible, engaging content
  • Experience with podcast production is considered an asset
  • Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage research tasks, communicate clearly, and collaborate effectively (in-person/remote) while adapting to evolving project needs.
  • Training or coursework in trauma-informed research/journalism practices, or ethical journalism/research frameworks is an asset, but not required.
  • Demonstrated experience engaging ethically with Indigenous communities, understanding of trauma-informed journalism and storytelling practices, and/or familiarity with Indigenous media ethics, community protocols, and relational approaches to reporting is an asset.
  • Indigenous applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Note on this role:

This role involves working with complex and likely distressing legal records, histories, and information. We are committed to working with trauma-informed practices and providing pathways for support, but applicants are also encouraged to consider your own readiness and capacity for the potential emotional impacts of this work. 

How to Apply

Please submit your cover letter, resume, and a copy of your transcript by October 1, 2026, 11:59pm EST to  analaura.pauchulo@torontomu.ca  with the subject line, IRSR Journalism  Research Assistant Application. 

Please include answers to the following questions in your cover letter: 

  1. What motivates you to apply to this role?
  2. What does it mean to you to engage in community-centred storytelling, particularly when working with sensitive or Survivor-centred materials?
  3. If you identify as Indigenous, please share your community connections in your cover letter.  

Toronto Metropolitan University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

  • We encourage all First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples or Indigenous peoples of North America, to self-identify in their applications. If you are an Indigenous applicant and require support during the recruitment process, please reach out to James McKay, Indigenous HR Lead at james13@torontomu.ca.
  • Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and aims to ensure that independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity are embedded in all aspects of the university culture.
  • We will provide an accessible experience for applicants, students, employees, and members of the Toronto Metropolitan University community. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the recruitment process. If you have restrictions that need to be accommodated to fully participate in any phase of the recruitment process, please reach out to to Human Resources: 
  • All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.