Countdown to registration: ENGL 3310, Indigenous Futurisms

Registration opens next week (May 11-12) and now is a good time to plan your timetable, including winter-term courses. Take a look at today’s featured course: ENGL 3310, Indigenous Futurisms, to be taught by Dr. Bernadette V. Russo on Monday and Wednesday, 10:30-11:45 (winter term).

More information from Dr. Russo:

“The stories offered here are thought experiments that confront issues of ‘Indianness’ in a genre that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century evolutionary theory and anthropology profoundly intertwined with colonial ideology . . .” (Grace Dillon, Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction).

Following the path paved by Afro-futurism, Indigenous futurism has carved its space within the science fiction genre. Taking the form of science fiction as well as several of the subgenres such as speculative fiction and written by Indigenous authors, futurism addressed issues of social justice that affect Indigenous peoples, including the construction of indianness, identity, assimilation, colonization, decolonization, and apocalypse. This course explores an array of written and filmic literatures from the realm of Indigenous futurisms.

Potential readings include may include any of the following: Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction edited by Grace Dillon, The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (Métis), Johnny Appleseed: A Novel by Joshua Whitehead (Oji-nêhiyaw), Robopocalypse by Daniel H Wilson (Cherokee), The Heirs of Columbus by Gerald Vizenor (Anishinaabe/Ojibwe), Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice (Wasauksing First Nation) Red Spider White Web by Misha Nogha (Métis), Solar Storms by Linda Hogan, and other possibilities.

Potential films include two short films: Danis Goulet’s Wakening (2013) and Jeff Barnaby’s File Under Miscellaneous (2010), as well as the feature length Blood Quantum (2019), also by Jeff Barnaby.

If you have any questions, you can email bernadettevrusso@gmail.com.

For more English and Writing course descriptions, see the Course Guide 2021-22 on our website.

Tenure-Track Job: Indigenous Literatures and Oral Traditions and/or Creative Writing

Inspired by a strong tradition of social responsibility and an enduring commitment to the advancement of women, Mount Saint Vincent University promotes academic excellence and the pursuit of knowledge through scholarship and teaching of the highest quality. Mount Saint Vincent University is committed to recruiting exceptional and diverse scholars and teachers. Recognized as a leader in flexible education, applied research, and a personalized approach to education, Mount Saint Vincent University is located on Canada’s East Coast in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Mi’kma’ki the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. Please visit http://www.msvu.ca.

Tenure-Track Faculty Position – Indigenous Scholar

The English Department at Mount Saint Vincent University invites applications for a tenure-track position in Indigenous Literatures and Oral Traditions and/or Creative Writing at the Assistant Professor level starting 1 July 2020. As a part of Mount Saint Vincent University’s Diversity Hiring Program, which aims to correct historic underrepresentation, this position is restricted to Indigenous peoples.

The Description

Applicants should have a PhD or PhD near completion in either Literary Studies, Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition, or Creative Writing, and/or demonstrated equivalent experience and recognition within the Indigenous community as a teacher, writer, and researcher.

The English Department has a dynamic undergraduate program and a strong record of excellence in teaching and research. The successful applicant will teach a range of literature and/or writing courses at all levels as part of a regular teaching load, and will be expected to maintain an active research/publication program and to participate in collegial service.

Workload includes teaching, research, and collegial service. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Agreement (please visit msvufa.ca). This position is subject to final budgetary approval and will remain open until filled.

Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, teaching dossier (including a statement of teaching philosophy), statement of current and future research interests, and contact information for three referees. The department will begin considering applications on 14 February 2020.

Send applications by mail or email (in a single .PDF) to:

Dr. Graham Fraser
Chair, Department of English
Mount Saint Vincent University
166 Bedford Highway
Halifax, NS B3M 2J6

Graham.Fraser@MSVU.CA

Mount Saint Vincent University is strongly committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within our community and encourages applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons of any sexual orientations and gender identities and/or expressions, Indigenous persons, African Canadians, other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, and other groups that would contribute to the diversification of our campus. Candidates who identify as being from any of these groups are encouraged to voluntarily self-identify in their application materials. All qualified candidates are welcome to apply; however, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Start Date: 07/01/2020

Department will begin considering applications: Friday, February 14, 2020

All positions remain open until filled. Applications should include statement of teaching and research interests, curriculum vitae and the names and contact information for three references.

Please mail or email applications to:
Dr. Graham Fraser
Chair, Department of English
Mount Saint Vincent University
166 Bedford Highway
Halifax, NS B3M 2J6

Email:   Graham.Fraser@msvu.ca

Poster [pdf]: Tenure-track position, MSVU English