Paid Tribal Youth Intern/Oral Historian

Description

In cooperation with the National Park Service Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR), the Great Basin Institute is recruiting a Tribal Youth Intern. Joshua Tree National Park has identified a need to provide multiple voices into its management and visitor programs. This project is intended to integrate multiple disciplines and park themes such as Native American traditional culture, homesteading, natural resource, and popular culture, by combining the stories associated with the individual museum objects from both a global and personal perspective. The Tribal Youth Intern will work closely with park professional in the development of research content for park staff in developing public programs utilizing information tribal members feel the public should know about their cultural history, and expand the park’s ability to share an accurate enriched narrative. Orientation and safety trainings will be presented throughout the year.

Duties:
The Research Associate, in collaboration with Joshua Tree National Park staff, will be involved in all aspects of researching, developing, and presenting educational materials for visitor education programs focusing on the following duties:
• Conduct original ethnographic research using archives and conducting oral history interviews with tribal elders and traditional practitioners in the field;
• Work with park museum curator and interpretive staff to develop interpretive content based on the research;
• Work with interpretive staff to develop and present public programs based on NPS interpretive standards and methods;
• Collaborate with park museum curator and interpretive staff to design web page content for the park’s web page and social media outlets; and
• Assist with other interpretive and museum projects (oral history, visitor services, and topical research).

Contract Timeline:
o 6-month appoinment beginning as soon as the right candidate is identified. Start date determined once federal background check is complete. Possibility of extension pending positive performance review and funding availability.

o Part time, 10-30 hours per week, including some weekends and evenings