Yaakwdáat Youth Steward (6 openings)

Position: Yaakwdáat Youth Steward

Location: Yakutat, Alaska
Employment Type: Three-week Contract starting July 15th
Salary: $18 per hour
Application Deadline: June 1, 2024

Project Summary:
The Yaakwdáat Youth Stewards (YYS) program, initiated by the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe, is designed to engage high school-aged youth in meaningful summer employment that fosters cultural leadership and environmental stewardship. Scheduled to launch a pilot project in 2024, YYS seeks to establish a sustainable framework that connects young people with their cultural heritage and the natural environment through Lingít traditional values. This initiative will provide participants with hands-on experience in land stewardship activities, strengthening their ties to the community and enhancing their skills through practical involvement in lands and waters stewardship projects.

Position Summary:
The Yakutat Tlingit Tribe is seeking proactive and dedicated Youth Crew Members to join the YYS program for a three-week contract, starting on July 15th for one week in Yakutat, Hoonah and Prince of Wales. As a Youth Crew Member, you will have the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in culturally rich activities and hands-on environmental stewardship projects that celebrate our Lingít heritage and connection to the land.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Engage in traditional stewardship of forests, rivers and marine environments through water quality testing, restoration proejcts and other activities.

- Travel to Hoonah and Prince of Wales to engage with other youth crews in their Alaska Youth Stewards work. 
- Participate in workshops and cultural learning sessions to deepen your understanding of Lingít traditions, storytelling, and language.
- Assist with land stewardship projects, including trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and beach cleanups, to preserve and protect our natural environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience:
- High School student between the ages of 14 and 18.
- Passion for learning about Lingít culture, traditions, and environmental stewardship.
- Willingness to participate in physically demanding outdoor activities in various weather conditions.

Other Requirements:
- Availability to commit to the full three-week duration of the YYS program, starting July 15th.
- Willingness to adhere to safety protocols and guidelines during all project activities.
- Must obtain parental/guardian consent if under 18 years of age.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

The Yaakwdáat Youth Steward will find themselves immersed in an outdoor work environment with temperatures fluctuating from cool to mild summers in Southeast Alaska. The Yaakwdáat Youth Steward will navigate through wooded areas, open fields, and greenhouse structures. The terrain, often uneven or sloped, demands careful navigation and attention to safety, while encounters with local wildlife like bears, moose, and smaller animals add an element of unpredictability.

Physically demanding tasks define the role, requiring regular bending, crouching, stooping, and lifting as staff engage in planting, weeding, and harvesting within the food forest. Adaptability to Yakutat's ever-changing weather—be it rain, wind, or sun—is crucial, necessitating appropriate clothing and protective gear. Effective communication and maintaining good physical health and stamina are prerequisites for the job. In sum, the position seeks individuals who embody resilience, physical prowess, and adaptability to thrive in the challenging yet rewarding environment of the Yaakwdáat Youth Steward Program.

Supervisory and Management Responsibility:

None.

Disclosures

• We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
• The Yakutat Tlingit Tribe maintains a drug-free workplace, and this position may be subject to random drug testing and criminal history checks.
• Preference will be given to qualified candidates who are Alaska Native and/or Yakutat Tlingit Tribal Members.
• Native American preference, as defined in Title 25, US Code, Chapter 14, Subchapter V, Subsection 273 and 274, will be applied to the hiring of this position. We are an equal opportunity employer, with preference given to qualified Native American/Alaska Native applicants in accordance with federal law and tribal poli