Paid Internship for Native American Adults.
Classes held Tuesdays and Thursdays October 10 - December 15
Position has been filled and is no longer available
The Native American nonprofit corporation, Elderberry Wisdom Farm, is offering its Traditional Ecological Knowledge Internship and the Native Agriculture Biodiversity Accelerator in the Fall of 2022 which will add microenterprise business ownership opportunities. This opportunity integrates Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with Western science so interns can develop meaningful career pathways aligned with their own earth-based cultural heritage.
Interns will receive a $2,000 stipend to complete the 148-hour internship over ten weeks which provides classroom education in the mornings and experiential service learning activities in the afternoons. The Native Agriculture Biodiversity Accelerator will provide the cohort of Native American adults with career pathway planning support and microenterprise business development in habitat restoration, agriculture or horticulture, including development of a Native plant nursery.
This internship will be held at our 19.7-acre Blue Elderberry Farm in rural Marion County south of Salem, Oregon. Service learning activities will include the new Native American plant nursery located at Blue Elderberry Farm, and the organic farm located near Aurora, Oregon. Most experiential learning activities will be held at Blue Elderberry Farm’s Native Plant Nursery.
These potential business owners/operators will gain experience in habitat restoration, horticulture and biodiverse agriculture, including farming on our 11-acre organic farm in the mid-Willamette Valley and our intentional Native American farm co-op community being planned in rural Marion County. Interns will develop a feasibility study, business and marketing plan and financial support through Alder Street Consulting, and they will also take advantage of an Individual Development Account (IDA) savings opportunity through Mercy Corps NW.
Elderberry Wisdom Farm’s partnership with Chemeketa Community College will also provide students with tuition waivers for two additional academic horticultural and irrigation courses.
To apply: Contact Sara at elderberrywisdom@gmail.com. Please feel free to email us with questions.
Our Mission: Elderberry Wisdom Farm provides opportunities for Native Americans, communities of color and public audiences to raise awareness of the rich cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge of America’s First Peoples. We work with diverse collaborative partners to provide educational and workforce opportunities so Native people can fulfill meaningful career pathway plans, strengthen health and wellness and achieve prosperity.