Student Internships |
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Native American Studies, either alone or in conjunction with another program or department on campus, sponsors a number of internship programs for students in the Program. These employment and learning opportunities last one or two terms and come about at the request of a student to work in a Native American community or organization that will act as host. In past years, Dartmouth NAS students have worked in legal aid on the Choctaw reservation; with land claim investigations in Maine and Quebec; in the collection of oral literature in Alaska and on the Yakima Reservation. They have also worked with such organizations as Americans for Indian Opportunity in Albuquerque, New Mexico; United Indian Planners, Washington, D.C.; and the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City and Washington, D.C. Dartmouth's Native American Studies has sent interns to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of History to work with the Repatriation Committee; to the Seminole Reservation in Florida to student teach in the Head Start program; and to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma to work on language preservation and development. The possibilities are rich and the opportunities rewarding. Many of our interns have patterned lifelong career goals as a result of their intern participation. An internship provides an invaluable opportunity for Native and non-Native students to gain a better understanding of the special and diverse world of Native America, and adds important elements to a student's academic studies portfolio: sensitivity to Native American people, knowledge of their struggle for political and socioeconomic self-determination, and continuity of Native cultural identity. These internships are open to all students; however, they are limited to Dartmouth students who have taken at least two NAS courses. Applicants must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.9 or better. Applicants must submit a proposal application and budget to the Native American Studies office. A letter of recommendation from at least one Dartmouth faculty member and a letter of commitment the community, tribal organization or agency where the student intends to serve will normally be required. Native American Studies has funds to finance several students per year with stipends of up to $2,000 for each project, but may award smaller stipends in order to assist more students. Students are encouraged to seek assistance with living expenses from the agency with which they intend to work. NAS faculty will review both the proposal and the record of the prospective intern to ensure that the funds are awarded to students who will do the best work and represent Native American Studies at Dartmouth in an exemplary way. NAS internship funds are not available to Mellon Fellows, who have access to other sources of funding. Applications are due at the beginning of the term before the student intends to begin the internship, although proposals may be submitted up to one year in advance.
Applications for Winter term are due October 15 A well-written summary report of 8-10 pages together with a letter from the host agency or community evaluating the intern's efforts and contribution, and a full accounting of monies spent, must be submitted to the office of Native American Studies within 60 days of the completion of the internship. Internships may not be used to receive Dartmouth course credit. Returning interns are required to present a colloquium during their next term in residence at the College. For additional information, contact:
Colin G. Calloway, Chair, Native American Studies Program, 205 Sherman House, Phone: (603) 646-2076 |
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