TITLE: Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps - Indigenous Researching and Mapping Individual Placement

STIPEND: $625.00 Weekly Living Stipend (+ Education award)

DATES:   10/04/2021 - 05/27/2022

TERM: 34 weeks, Full time, REMOTE

REPORTS TO:  Partnership for the National Trails System

LOCATION: Remote position

STATUS:  1200 hour AmeriCorps Service Term 

BENEFITS:  AmeriCorps  Education Award  $4,336.50 after each successful completion of term.

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The National Trails System (NTS) was enacted by congress in 1968 and designated the first of what is now 30 national trails. Many of these trails were first Indigenous sacred landscapes, and they still contain the stories of the ancient and historic trade routes of present-day cultures. To create a genuine relationship with Indigenous communities, the National and Scenic and Historic Trails must engage at a level that includes the right to have crucial conversations, to co-create projects that are inclusive of marginalized voices, to listen to the knowledge of Indigenous peoples, and to act on much-needed change. Through these conversations and a mapping analysis, agency staff and partners can highlight relevant Native Nations’ traditional territories along the Trail. The Partnership for the National Trail System (PNTS) Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC), Federal Land Management agencies and Native Land Digital (Native-Land.ca) have partnered to “create and foster conversations about the history of colonialism, Indigenous ways of knowing, and settler-Indigenous relations,” through educational resources and a GIS mapping. This project is intended to be the beginning of important - and necessary - conversations that will spark genuine future collaborations and long-standing relationships.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

ANCESTRAL LANDS CONSERVATION CORPS:

It is the mission of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to lead our Nations back to cultural and ecological well being. The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps is specifically designed to engage Native American youth and young adults with offices in Acoma Pueblo, Albuquerque (Tiwa Territory), Gallup (Navajo Nation), Zuni Pueblo, and Hopi Nation.  *ANCESTRAL LANDS CONSERVATION CORPS ALSO SERVES LOCAL TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IN THE REGIONS WE OPERATE OUTSIDE OF OUR 5 OFFICES.  NATIVE AMERICAN APPLICANTS ARE PREFERRED .

PARTNERSHIP FOR THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM [WWW.PNTS.ORG]:

For nearly three decades, the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS) has been a collective voice, a resource provider, a convener and a hub for exchange, learning, and action for the National Trails System. As the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on the 30 National Scenic and Historic Trails (NSHT), PNTS brings together professionals, leaders and trail and hiking enthusiasts to promote a thriving, accessible, and inclusive National Trails System.

NATIVE LAND DIGITAL [HTTPS://NATIVE-LAND.CA]:

Native Land Digital is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization. We have a majority-Indigenous Board of Directors, representing people who have close ties to land bases, communities, and deep knowledge about Indigenous ways of being and knowing. The Board of Directors is further informed by an Advisory Council, consisting of a variety of specialists in mapmaking, GIS, relations with Indigenous communities, and more. Together, these two forces help to face and deal with many of complex issues that mapping Indigenous territories involves.

ALCC INDIGENOUS RESEARCHING AND MAPPING INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT (IP) OVERVIEW:

This position will be responsible for developing an interactive GIS map, a toolkit and other resources to help the federal agencies that administer National Trails and their nonprofit trail organization partners advance National Trails System knowledge of Ancestral Lands and increase partnerships and collaboration with Indigenous Communities along National Scenic and National Historic Trails (NSHT). They will play an instrumental role in communicating with Indigenous communities, Federal Trail Administrators/Managers, staff and partners and disseminating developed resources to all stakeholders.  This is an AmeriCorps position that is intended “to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based direct national and community service.” 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.  Work with Native Land Digital (Native-Land.ca) and GIS professionals at Federal agencies to develop a geographic information system (GIS) overlay for the National Trail System Map in coordination with Native Land Digital (Native-Land.ca).

• Interact with GIS professionals at Federal agencies and Native Land Digital (Native-Land.ca) to determine needs, outline a work plan and create the map.
• Circulate map for edits and verification; incorporate input and finalize map.
• Make map publicly available on PNTS website and the websites of other project partners.
• Develop a procedure for updating or altering the map in the future.
• Create a feedback tool for the field to support Native Land Digital’s future mapping improvements.

2.  Create a toolkit of resources to compliment the map and a feedback tool for the field to support Native Land Digital's future mapping improvements.

• Through outreach, assess the needs of the Trails community and Native communities to help prioritize information and resources to be developed.
• Research best practices based on needs and determine what resources will be included in the toolkit with input from project partner (PNTS, BLM, USFS, Native Lands).
• Draft a toolkit that will provide guidance for Trail Administrators/Managers, staff and partners on ways to collaborate with Native communities. Amongst other resources, the toolkit may provide guidance on utilizing land acknowledgments, information about ways of presenting/interpreting the map with the public and provide printed material templates and educational components or website updates.
• Provide copy and images for a web-page on the PNTS website where materials will be made available to the public.

3.  Document all contacts, materials, and processes used to create the map and toolkit.

• Keep a database of all contacts, all state, federal, and tribal documents, processes, treaties, and research practices used in creating the map and toolkit.
• Share the database with project partners for regular upkeep after the end of this internship.

4.  Organize and lead presentations or trainings to promote use of the map and toolkit.

• Provide copy and images for federal or nonprofit websites that will link to the map to be created, as well as other promotional messages.
• Participate in the virtual 2021 National Trails Workshop to brief participants on the project and help organize sessions as appropriate.
• Present project materials and findings through one or more online trainings to educate trails professionals and other agency staff about how to use the newly developed resources.
• Organize webinars or video presentations on topics covered in the toolkit.
• Identify a range of potential cooperative efforts between Native communities, Native Land Digital, partners, NSHT’s and other Indigenous organizations.
• Make recommendations for next steps to continue to advance this project.

Required Skills

QUALIFICATIONS: Understanding that the skill sets sought are diverse, candidates with one or more of the skills/experience sought are welcome to apply. The position(s) could be focused or adapted for the right candidate/s. Indigenous applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.  The position(s) could be focused or adapted for the right candidate/s. Indigenous applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Experience or strong familiarity of working with Indigenous communities
• Significant experience or training in GIS (minimum of two years experience or significant, college level or equivalent training)
• 1 year of experience and/or education in communications
• Commitment to advancing JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion)
• Self-motivated
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work both independently and with a team while ensuring open communications and smooth collaboration with multiple stakeholders

Required Experience

● Ages 18-30

● U.S. Citizenship o Permanent Resident Card, INS form I-551 o Alien Registration Card, INS form I-551 o A passport indicating that the INS has been approved it as temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence o A departure record (INS 194) indication that the INS has approved it as temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence ● Valid driver’s license

APPLY NOW!

To apply, please submit an updated resume and letter of interest along with the online application.  Contact Ryan Aguilar at raguilar@conservationlegacy.org with any questions.

QUALIFICATIONS: Understanding that the skill sets sought are diverse, candidates with one or more of the skills/experience sought are welcome to apply. The position(s) could be focused or adapted for the right candidate/s. Indigenous applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.  The position(s) could be focused or adapted for the right candidate/s. Indigenous applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Experience or strong familiarity of working with Indigenous communities
• Significant experience or training in GIS (minimum of two years experience or significant, college level or equivalent training)
• 1 year of experience and/or education in communications
• Commitment to advancing JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion)
• Self-motivated
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work both independently and with a team while ensuring open communications and smooth collaboration with multiple stakeholders