Position Summary: The Maajii-akii-gikenjigewin, Starting out in Earth Conservation, engages motivated Indigenous young adults, ages 18+, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects throughout the Fond du Lac Reservation and within the 1837, 1842, and 1854 ceded territories. The Maajii-akii-gikenjigewin crew will work with current FDL Resource Management professionals to gain valuable experience and skills, to prepare for future careers in the natural resources field. Crew members will work on challenging and impactful conservation projects that may include:
- Invasive species management
- Stream bank stabilization, erosion control
- Prescribed burning
- Trail construction & maintenance
- Tree planting
- Basic carpentry
- Wildland fire suppression
- Wolf population monitoring and management
- Emergency response
The Maajii-akii-gikenjigewin crew will work to conserve and restore rivers, wetlands, watersheds, forests, and other important ecosystems within the FDL reservation; expand access to the outdoors for FDL band members; engage Tribal youth in conservation work to prepare them for careers in natural resources; and support the conservation plans of FDL Resource Management, with a focus on locally led and designed conservation efforts that support and respect Tribal sovereignty and cultural knowledge.
By the end of the term, the entirety of the crew will have a wide breadth of understanding of management activities occurring within the FDL Reservation and ceded territories, and be prepared for future careers in a variety of fields occurring within resource management at a local, state, and federal level.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Complete natural resources service projects in cooperation with fellow members safely, effectively and efficiently and to the satisfaction and specifications of the project host
- Abide by FDL and Corps program safety regulations as well as applicable federal/state/municipal law and OSHA requirements; communicate any safety concerns and incidents
- Contribute actively to the team to complete projects, demonstrating a commitment to the Corps values of safety, justice, stewardship, community and leadership.
- Positive attitude, desire to learn new skills, interest in community service; represent Conservation Corps in positive manner in public
- Complete the entire service term per the start and end dates listed on the Member Service Agreement
Complete and approve timecards and other required reports and paperwork in timely manner
Hours & Schedule
A typical schedule is 40 hours/week, Monday – Thursday, 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM, including a mandatory 30 minute lunch break which does not count towards service hours. Overnight travel (4 – 8 consecutive days) is sometimes required for service projects. Some special assignments (including wildfire response and other emergency response assignments) may require members to deploy for several weeks at a time.
Training & Development
The Corps and FDL Resource Management provides orientation and skills training at the start of the program year, and additional region or project specific training throughout the service term that may include:
- AmeriCorps benefits
- Leadership
- Conflict resolution
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Safety and risk management
- Power and hand tool safety and maintenance
- Wildland Fire
- Mental Health
- First Aid and CPR
- Invasive species management/herbicide application
- Treaty Rights
- Plant identification
- Leave No Trace principles.
