Description:
This internship is off-campus
Schedule: 5 days, 4 hours/day.
This schedule is flexible and can be discussed with the internship supervisor.
Dates: 01-04-2021 - 04-16-2021
Agency: Conserve Southwest Utahwest Utah
Location: St. George
Overview:
The Mojave desert tortoise (MDT) lives on the ancestral homelands of the Southern Paiute in CA, NV, AZ, and UT, including on the Shivwits Reservation in southwest UT. The MDT is considered a warrior by the Shivwits Band because of its endurance and ability to survive great hardship. Developmental pressures are causing MDT populations to steadily decline, and biologists are seeking partnerships with tribes and bands to conserve this species. Local biologists have partnered with the Shivwits Band to learn more about the presence of MDT and suitable habitat throughout Washington County, including on sovereign land. Shivwits interns and biologists will be surveying Shivwits Reservation lands for MDT in spring 2021. A crucial component of this project is the collection, preservation, and elevation of tribal knowledge on the MDT.
Our goal for this internship is to provide a learning opportunity by helping the student to create their own individual approach to interviewing Southern Paiute elders. Guiding our thinking is an understanding that while indigenous knowledge may be different from western scientific understanding, it has value in its own right and represents a “complete and logical alternative to western science” as described by Vine Deloria Jr. in Spirit and Reason.
The term of the job is approximately 15 weeks, part-time. Likely time period is January through May. 20 hours/week at $15/hour.
Responsibilities:
- Intern will research and prepare interview questions to learn about the cultural value of the MDT to the Shivwits Band and the role of the MDT in ecosystems on their ancestral homelands.
- At the discretion of the Shivwits Band, intern will collect interviews, stories, songs, words, and art related to the MDT and its connection to people, plants, other animals and land.
- With support from project partners, intern will determine the best method of preserving indigenous knowledge for future generations. Intern will determine best method for sharing knowledge with appropriate audiences with the aim of conserving the MDT. As needed, interns will receive:
- Training on how to complete archival-quality interviews.
- Support with scheduling interviews, transcription, preservation and transmittal.
- Opportunity to participate in an MDT field survey on Shivwits Reservation.
- Support in organizing and participating in community events with the Shivwits Band and project partners.
- Intern may be invited to participate in storytelling sessions, radio broadcast and guided hikes, pending funding and COVID-19.
- Intern will conduct interviews with 2-3 elders from the Shivwits Band, either virtually or in-person.
- Intern will also conduct interviews with the 2 Shivwits Band survey interns.
- These brief interviews about experiences with MDT will integrate and continue the knowledge that the Band has accumulated on the MDT since time immemorial.
- Intern will transcribe interviews and compile a final report.
*CSU will require a written report of your experience with the project.
Qualifications:
Independent transportation to and from the Shivwits reservation, approximately 10 miles west of downtown St. George, may be necessary.