Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 3, 1 March 1994 — Caring for the culture: museum internship open [ARTICLE]

Caring for the culture: museum internship open

OHA's goal in supporting this internship is to develop professional collections management expertise in a native Hawaiian who ean also bring cultural knowledge to the care of Hawaiian and Polynesian objects. OHA land officer Linda Delaney notes that "nontraditional applicants are especially weleome to apply. Their experience is valuable even if they don't fit the usual profile of a museum employee." "Other Native Americans are

also grappling with the idea of how to care for repatriated objects," Delaney said. "Collections are not just human (remains). They also include birds, shells, tree snails — the entire spectrum of the Hawaiian heritage. The intern will work with Bishop Museum's eolleetions and travel to leam how eollections management is changing in the U.S. and in the Pacific." She said, "After a year we will hopefully have someone to be the Hawaiian conscience and presenee in the museum experience." The intemship is full-time, 40 hours a week. The intern will become familiar with museum practices and procedures, and work with the conservation staff

to leam how to preserve individual objects, and how to maintain collections. In turn, the intern will pass on community concems and practices to museum staff. The intemship will include attendance at professional museum meetings and up to two months study at a museum outside Hawai'i. Individuals contemplating careers in museums or cultural programs are encouraged to apply. A college degree or eomparable life/work experience is desired, but personal experience and knowledge of Hawaiian or Pacific cultural traditions ean substitute for academic or work

experience. Applicants must be willing to work with different staff on a variety of projects, and to undertake directed and independent activities pertaining to museum practices. The intem must meet oeeupational physical requirements and be able to travel. The intern will receive a monthly stipend based on $17,056 a year with medical benefits and other museum privileges also provided.

To apply, send a resume and/or a letter of interest, and two letters of recommendation. Include your present address and phone number. The letter of interest should describe career goals, any knowledge, skills or experience whieh you will bring to the intemship, and how your community and the museum profession will benefit from your participation. Letters of recommendation ean be written by an employer, academie advisor or community leader. These letters should address your ability to fulfill the intemship, what you will bring to it and what you will gain by it. Send applications by (March 15) to: Carol Higa, Personnel, Bishop Museum, P.O. Box 19000-A. Honolulu. Hawai'i 96817-0916.

WANTED: native Hawaiians with strong interest in Hawaiian and Pacific cultures, demonstrated involvement in community and cultural programs and interest in care of these spiritual and cultural heritages. FOR: one-year internship as a collection care intern, I in the conservation services department of Bishop Museum. This position is funded by Bishop Museum, OHA and the Mellon Foundation. APPLY TO: Personnel, Bishop Museum, P.O. Box 19000-A, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96817-0916. Deadline for application: March 15, 1994.