Volunteer Summer Program Assistants
Volunteer Info Session (March 24th, 2:00pm-3:00pm)
Join us for a volunteer info session and free pizza on March 24th, 2026! We will be sharing information on this year's summer school and how to get involved as a VeSPA.
When: April 24th 2026, 2:00pm-3:00pm
Where: Assiniboia Hall (ASH) 4-70
Volunteering For distils
Participate in making the first Discoveries and Insights in Skills Training in Intergenerational Language Sustainability Conference a success!
Conference Dates: May 4-6, 2026
Workshop Dates: May 7-8, 2026
The goal of this conference is to open a forum where ILS (Intergenerational Language Sustainability) skills trainers and the communities they work alongside of can share experiences, exchange ideas, or carry out research on ways to improve their practices. This would support the development and strengthening of training programs aimed at providing community members with the skills they need to support Intergenerational Language Sustainability (ILS) across the world.
Volunteering with CILLDI
CILLDI’s Volunteer Summer Program Assistants (VeSPAs) are assigned to a summer school class in one or two blocks, either as course assistants or tutors for students, and are invited to join any additional social events if they are available. Because summers are busy, we try to be flexible when scheduling VeSPAs - make sure to let us know if you are not available, in your application or by email.
VeSPA responsibilities may include:
- Assisting students with coursework, questions, etc
- Providing support to instructors (printing, class set-up)
- Helping with the organization of social events
- Being a U of A campus ambassador: showing students from out of town where to find classes, places to eat, residences, and administration buildings
- Contributing to record-keeping projects (we may ask you to take photos or video)
We welcome applicants with a wide variety of skills and a commitment to the preservation of linguistic diversity. Since VeSPAs will be helping with courses, a background in Linguistics, Education, Native Studies, or Anthropology is an asset, but is not mandatory.
CILLDI aims to support Indigenous people to protect, preserve, promote, practice and pass on their languages. Join us on this journey!
To apply, please complete the Volunteer Program Assistant Application Form online.
CILLDI provides valuable experience and networking opportunities for those interested in linguistics, technology and language, and language policy. CILLDI program assistants work with and learn from speakers of Indigenous languages from various language families across Canada and professional linguists on the front lines of language documentation and revitalization."
- Ashleigh, 2016-2020 CILLDI VeSPA
