SHIP Intern

WABANAKI PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS SUMMER HEALTH INTERNSHIP 2025

Our mission is to provide community-driven, culturally centered public health and social services to all Wabanaki communities and beyond. Our values include inclusivity, balance, and cultural centeredness. Wabanaki traditions, language, and culture guide our approach and describe the ways we live in harmony with each other and the land we collectively share. 

The Wabanaki Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP) is a full-time, paid, 8-week summer internship opportunity that will require some attendance at weekend events through the program. This internship is an opportunity for American Indian and Alaskan Native undergraduate students and those who have graduate school aspirations looking to explore careers related to health and wellness. The internship seeks to foster and affirm the identities and knowledge of the next generation of Indigenous professionals. 

Core Competencies: 

Core Competencies are foundational commitments and skills that all WPHW staff are expected to develop. These competencies define common measures for performance that are applied to every Intern. 

• Collaboration: Collaboration is essential to foster the delivery of the highest quality programs and services.  All work is done in alignment with our mission, vision, and values.
• Communication: Interns will learn to practice effective and clear communication with other staff members, relatives, teams, and community. We demonstrate empathy among each other and with those we serve, and transparency in our decision making. 
• Community Service Orientation: Interns will learn to recognize the needs of the diverse community we serve. We put the needs of our relatives first by delivering the highest quality, professional, responsive, and innovative programs, and services. 
• Accountability: Interns will learn to manage their own work, take ownership of their actions and decisions, deliver the highest quality work while practicing respect for all employees of WPHW and the people we serve. 
• Time management: Interns will be expected to keep track of their timesheets and weekly logs. They will also be expected to deliver work on time while practicing respect for all employees of WPHW

Position Summary:

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness is looking for Wabanaki students who are eager to explore healing, wellness, research and public health careers. SHIP interns will work in an area of special interest and will also participate in weekly learning sessions while working directly with a WHPW staff member on an assigned project.  

Projects will be based on current needs but will generally be related to focus areas in one of the WHPW Centers/Divisions:

• Community and Land Wellness Division (CWL) division, located within the Wabanaki Center for Public Health, works to support Wabanaki communities through providing and offering food and water support, educational resources, physical activity promotion, and traditional information. This division sits withing the Wabanaki Center for Public Health.   
• Our Future Generation (OFG) division, located within the Wabanaki Center for Public Health, works to support community members from in utero all the way to adulthood. OFG focuses on welcoming and supporting the youngest members and their families by helping strengthen their culture identity, leadership development, mentorship and exploring what their role will be in the community and beyond. This division sits withing the Wabanaki Center for Public Health. 
• Center for Wabanaki Community & Cultural Connections division facilitates cultural programs and activities to promote and support education. The aim is to strengthen cultural identity and promote a positive connection to the Wabanaki community and culture to improve mental health, reduce suicide, substance use disorder, and prevent intentional and unintentional injury.  
•  Center for Wabanaki Healing and Recovery (CHR) division works to address the treatment and recovery needs in Wabanaki communities. Multiple locations have been opened to support tribal members on their recovery journey. Culture, ceremony, language, and traditions are at the heart of the recovery journey. 
• Center for Wabanaki Research, Knowledge, and Innovation (CWRKI): This newly created Center has the mission to create a world where Wabanaki people overcome barriers to improve health and wellness in our communities empowered by Wabanaki-led data and research. This work is done by weaving Indigenous knowledge with western sciences to tell the story of Wabanaki people.  
•  Community Healing & Support Division: The health and wellness Center, located within the Center for Healing and Recovery, focuses on providing high-quality, culturally relevant behavioral health services, substance use treatment, and housing support to our Wabanaki community and other Indigenous people. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties will be dependent on the selected and available projects as well as the SHIP Intern’s interest and experience but may include any of the following: 

• Completing objectives for assigned project
• Assisting with the development of communication materials to share   
• Drafting letters, tables, charts, graphs, maps, data tables, presentations, and other visual aids as necessary
• Assisting in the editing and formatting of project reports and related materials
• Assisting with Division events and projects
• Participating in individual and organizational training and learning opportunities
• Attending all program obligated events
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Required:

• Must have a high school diploma or GED 
• Must have completed at least one semester of college or university 
• Must be enrolled in an Undergraduate program
• Familiarity with health and social issues facing American Indians and Alaska Natives

Application Process & Requirements: 

To be considered for the 2025 SHIP Internship, all applicants must submit:

• Resume (if you do not have a resume, a list of your work history is sufficient. You will learn resume building during your time with us!) 
• Essay (500-650 words, 12-point font, double spaced.)
  • Prompt: Why Indigenous health and healing is important to me and which centers within WPHW interest me. 

Ø In lieu of formal interviews, selected applicants will have a virtual ‘meet & greet’ with the Tribal Internship Coordinator and Education Division Director. The meet & greet serves to get to know each other and an overview of the internship. 

Ø Deadline for applications is March 3rd, 2025

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.