Co-Stewardship of Public Lands with Indigenous Peoples
Faculty mentor/Supervisor:
Emily Rabung
Email Address:
Department Affiliation:
Forest Ecosystems & Society
Project Location:
Richardson Hall and across field sites in Oregon
Project Description:
In November of 2021, the Secretaries of the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture released a joint order directing all their bureaus (including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service) to work towards co-stewarding public lands with Tribes to uphold treaty and trust responsibilities that the United States government has towards Tribal Nations (S.O. 3403). This social science project is part of a larger effort tackling the question of what co-stewardship means from different perspectives and how this work can be successfully implemented on the ground. The successful candidate will join the lab in preparing for and completing community-engaged qualitative fieldwork (e.g. going out to talk to people and communities about what co-stewardship means to them).
Describe the type of work and tasks you anticipate the student will perform:
The two main stages of work will include preparing for and then completing qualitative fieldwork with local communities. The undergraduate student will work closely with me, a faculty member, and a graduate student during this work. For the first stage, tasks that the student may assist with includes preparation of fieldwork materials (such as forms, announcements, questions guides, recording equipment, etc.), communication with communities to recruit participants and schedule meetings, and organizing meeting and travel logistics. For the second stage, tasks that the student may assist with include attending data collection meetings, following up with participants and communities, and data maintenance. Students will also be encouraged to contribute their own questions and ideas as the project develops.
Hourly rate of pay:
$20
What is the expected timeline of this project?:
Students can start on-boarding for the project at the beginning of the winter quarter (01/06/25). We expect the project to continue through the end of the spring quarter (06/13/25) but there may be a possibility of additional funds to hire the student to continue work through the summer (09/05/25).
Are special skills or knowledge required to work on this project?:
No
Will training be provided?:
Yes
How many hours per week do you anticipate a student to work?:
Around 10-15 hours per week
How many hours per week do you anticipate engaging in direct mentorship?:
1-3 hours per week
Detail your mentorship plan:
The student will join regular meetings with the research team where they will be exposed to components of the larger project. The student will be encouraged to ask questions and contribute comments on the project as it develops. Additionally, I will meet weekly with the student one-on-one to discuss their specific tasks, address any questions they have, and give feedback on their performance and skill development. I will be open to adapting the student’s work and training toward what skills the student is most interested in developing within the scope of our work. Additionally, the student will be encouraged to present their work within the research group and other venues.