Seed Sovereignty: Native American Internship












 




Moderator’ Note:
This is a time-sensitive opportunity for a paid internship for a Native
American colleague interested in working with the renowned Native Seeds/SEARCH
(NS/S) organization in Arizona. The deadline for applications is this coming
Sunday, August 25. Native Seeds/SEARCH conserves, distributes and documents the
adapted and diverse varieties of agricultural seeds, their wild relatives and
the role these seeds play in cultures of the American Southwest and northwest
Mexico. NS/S promotes the use of these ancient crops and their wild relatives
by gathering, safeguarding, and distributing their seeds to farming and
gardening communities. They are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in
Tucson, Arizona.





We
encourage our Native American readers and followers to apply or share this
information with persons that might be interested in this excellent opportunity
to participate in the work of one of the world’s leading organizations
dedicated to seed sovereignty.


 


Photo courtesy of Native Seeds/SEARCH



NS/S Native American Internship Program is
Accepting Applications





The application deadline for Internship Period I (September 2013 -
February 2014) has been extended until Sunday, August 25. 





Native Seeds/SEARCH is seeking applicants for our
Native American Internship Program in crop genetic resources conservation. The
internship will provide a unique and intensive learning opportunity to
individuals interested in seed conservation programs and regionally adapted
dryland agricultural systems among Native populations in the Greater
Southwest. Upon completion of the program, interns will be armed with
hands-on experience and tools necessary to implement and strengthen regional
seed conservation efforts in Native communities.





NS/S has always recognized the critical importance of
Native agriculture and initiated this internship program to help build the
capacity in Native communities for their own food security and
sovereignty. In our thirty years of conserving the unique agrobiodiversity
of the Southwest, NS/S has amassed a wealth of experience and knowledge in the
practice of bioregional seed conservation. Our ex situ approach to conservation takes place in our
state-of-the-art seed bank facility at the NS/S Agricultural Conservation
Center in Tucson, Arizona, and our sixty-acre Conservation Farm in nearby
Patagonia, Arizona, where the varieties in our collection are periodically
regenerated to preserve their viability and genetic purity. These activities
are complemented by our in situ conservation
efforts to promote the active usage and development of crop diversity through
greater access to seeds and knowledge. Together, these operations represent an
elegant and well-established system of traditional seed conservation on par
with the best in the world. Intern participants will assist will all aspects of
our conservation operations.





Program
Duration and Benefits





The six-month internships will be full-time
positions. Interns will receive a stipend. Interns are expected to work a
full-time, five-day week, Monday-Friday. Some flexibility is necessary as farm
related activities require. Interns should reside in the Tucson area for the
duration of the program. Housing is not provided.





One internship position is available for each of the
scheduled periods:





Internship Period I: September 2013-February 2014


Internship Period II: March-August 2014





What Will the
Interns Do?





While assisting Native Seeds/SEARCH conservation
efforts, participants will:


  • Contribute to crop conservation activities at the NS/S Conservation
    Center and Farm. Activities will include seed harvesting, selection, seed
    bank sample preparation and curation, and photo and data documentation.

  • Learn seed saving protocols through both the 6-day NS/S Seed School
    course and hands-on conservation work with NS/S crop accessions grown at
    the Conservation Center and Farm.

  • Gain training and experience in a diversity of topics relating to
    crop conservation, including population genetics and evolutionary biology;
    plant reproductive biology and morphology; complementarity of broad
    approaches to crop conservation: ex
    situ     and in situ; classical
    and evolutionary/participatory plant breeding; building and managing a
    seed collection; documenting and evaluating crop characteristics;
    developing core collections for improved collection management; crop
    mixtures for enhanced resilience and adaptation potential; crop wild
    relatives and their unique potential; data management; photo
    documentation; intellectual property rights and seed ethics; growing and
    saving seeds; sustainable agricultural practices; history of agriculture
    in the Southwest; and the global crop conservation landscape.






Additional seed conservation topics and projects can
be explored, and are encouraged, depending upon the interests of individual
interns.





Desired
Qualifications





  • Ability and commitment to broadly share knowledge gained in the
    internship program with Native communities in the Greater Southwest.

  • Attention to detail and good communication skills.

  • Possession of a valid driver’s license.

  • Farming or gardening experience is a plus.

  • Possess basic computer skills. Training for use of necessary
    computer programs will be provided but applicants should feel comfortable
    using a computer for word processing and data entry.

  • Ability to work outside as well as in an office. Many of the
    internship activities will involve physical labor outside in the Arizona
    heat, inside a walk-in refrigerator where the seeds are stored, and
    working at a computer. Interns should be physically able (including the
    ability to lift 50 lbs) and comfortable working in all locations.

  • Motivation and willingness to learn, share knowledge during and
    beyond the internship duration, possess a good work attitude, and have the
    ability to solve problems.

  • Ability to work as part of a team. Interns attend Conservation
    Department meetings, participate in discussions about research strategies
    and organization, and work with other staff and volunteers.

  • Ability to perform manual labor and technical work, make careful
    observations, record data legibly and accurately, and use a computer for
    word processing and database entry.






How to Apply:





Please send a cover letter detailing why you are
interested in the NS/S Native American Internship program, what you hope to
learn, and how you plan to take the skills and knowledge gained during the
program and apply it in future work with Native communities. Include a resume
listing previous employment, relevant experience and skills. Also include your
contact information and the contact information for 2-3 references. Please be
clear on which internship period for which you wish to be considered.





Applications can be mailed or emailed to Melissa
Kruse-Peeples, Collections Manager, Native Seeds/SEARCH, 3584 E. River Road,
Tucson, AZ 85718; mpeeples@nativeseeds.org.







Application
deadlines:





Internship Period I (September – February): August 20, 2013  Extended until Sunday, August 25, 2013.





Internship Period II (March – August): February 15, 2014





Applications will be reviewed shortly after the
deadline. Select candidates will be contacted for phone or in-person
interviews. All applicants will be notified upon the selection of the
candidates.





Additional questions may be directed to Melissa
Kruse-Peeples at mpeeples@nativeseeds.org.




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