WaYS Internships
9/8/2021 – Wabanaki Youth in Science – Paid Mentorships & Internships for Students at UMaine and High School
Through a grant from the USDA, called New Beginning for Wabanaki Students (NBWS), the University of Maine Wabanaki Center and the Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) program have funding to support mentorships and internships for Wabanaki students.
There are two distinct programs. Kinap Mentorships are available to college-age students (upper level undergraduates or graduate students) who will be mentors to younger students at UMaine and in their tribal communities.
WaYS Internships are also available for all Wabanaki students–high school and college age–living in Maine. Students will collaborate with advisors to design an internship project in an area of concern to them and to their tribal community. Their project advisors will include a Cultural Knowledge Keeper from the Wabanaki community and a western researcher or professional. Other advisors can be included.
Full description
9/2/2021 – Wabanaki Youth in Science – Paid Mentorships & Internships in Washington County
Through a grant from the USDA, called New Beginning for Wabanaki Students (NBWS), the University of Maine Wabanaki Center and the Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) program have funding to support mentorships and internships for Wabanaki students enrolled at the University of Maine at Machias or living in Washington county.
There are two distinct programs. Kinap mentorships are available to college-age students (upper level undergraduates or graduate students) who will be mentors to younger students at UMM and in their tribal communities. A press release announcing the new program can be found here. (Mentorship program originally called “Ambassadors Program.”)
WaYS Internships are also available for all Wabanaki students living in Washington county or enrolled at UMM. Students will collaborate with advisors to design an internship project in an area of concern to them and to their tribal community. Their project advisors will include a Cultural Knowledge Keeper from the Wabanaki community and a western researcher or professional. Other advisors can be included.
Full description.
Turtle Survey on the North Branch of Meduxnekeag River
Dave Putnam (University of Maine Presque Isle) is looking for high school and college students to help with a complete survey of the North Branch of the Meduxnekeag River to determine the presence, general population density, and locations of possible wood turtle clusters within the drainage. The overall objective is to assist Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to complete their statewide assessment of wood turtle population. The project is planned to be conducted on Fridays and Saturdays In May and the first half of June. Students will record all captured or observed turtles, including water and air temperatures, habitat, gender, carapace length, and take carapace and plastron photographs of captured turtles. Turtles will be replaced exactly as they were found following recording procedures. We will also make observations about glacial and fluvial geomorphology, and record any evidence of archaeological material that we may encounter. If you are interested, please contact Cara O’Donnell (water@maliseets.com) or tish carr (waysprogram@gmail.com).
Maine Coastal Shell Middens
Alice Kelly (University of Maine Orono/School of Earth and Climate Sciences) has developed an exciting research program on Maine’s shell middens — mapping, investigating, preserving them. Her work would be fascinating to students with an interest in the natural sciences and/or archaeology, and it could be a natural fit for collaborating with TEK mentors from the Wabanaki community. Alice is already working with community organizations in Damariscotta and has made some waves in the news. Here are some links to see what this is all about!
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/science/native-americans-shell-middens-maine.html
http://www.islandinstitute.org/working-waterfront/ancient-shell-middens-speak-climate-and-culture
Marine Sedimentation Studies
Katherine Allen (University of Maine Orono/School of Earth and Climate Sciences ) has projects in the marine sedimentology and stable isotope laboratories. There are two main projects in which the student/s will be involved, depending on interest: 1) Investigating Maine’s water cycle through stable isotope analysis, and 2) Paleoceanography of the Gulf of Maine. To prepare for this work, the student/s will receive lab and field safety training, as well as training in specific methods: field collection of water samples for stable isotope analysis, laboratory training in stable isotope analysis, processing of marine sediment samples, and micropaleontology (fossil identification). Student/s will take weekly water samples from the Penobscot River to monitor composition from winter through the spring runoff and into the summer. They will assist with laboratory analysis of these samples and participate in construction of an online database where data will be stored and eventually shared with the community. The working hours are flexible.