Coolest Job Ad Ever
At least, I think so! I cut and pasted this directly from Indeed.com:
Language Apprentice
Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Ind - Dowagiac, MI
Part-time
Commitment to Citizen Service
Service encompasses all aspects of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians governmental operations. Every employee shares the responsibility to provide exemplary service, dignity, and respect to all Tribal Citizens, the Tribal Council, and staff members. To this end, all employees have an obligation to identify and report any service problems, issues, or concerns and through designated channels, initiate, recommend, and actively participate in solutions.
Position Summary: The Language Apprentice will work with the Language Specialist to achieve fluency in the Potawatomi Language. The Language Apprentice will learn and abide by proper Potawatomi etiquette. The Language Apprentice will also work cooperatively with the Language Program to develop and implement methods and strategies to help other Potawatomi Language students.
Essential Functions:
Participate in all master apprenticeship meetings with all master speakers;
Committing to immersion style learning at all times when attending master
apprenticeship sessions;
Maintaining the primary responsibility of documenting sessions through use of digital voice, photo, and video recordings with Master Speakers permission;
Utilizing language throughout the workday and in all other possible situations;
Practicing conversation exclusively in language with Master Speaker;
Addressing other language learners and teachers in the Potawatomi language in the community.
Assisting in the republishing of language material;
Demonstrating sensitivity and patience when working with master speakers, apprentices and other language learners and teachers;
Participating in language staff meetings and working with Language Coordinator to identify priorities;
Non-Essential Functions:
Perform other related functions as assigned.
Equipment:
Standard office equipment.
Systems used: MS Office Applications, Internet
Position Requirements:
High School Diploma or GED required.
Knowledge of Potawatomi Language required.
Experience working with Native American communities required.
Proficiency with MS Office Applications required.
Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to accommodate evening and weekend events.
Indian Preference
Pokagon Band Preference Code applies.
Physical Requirements:
Work involves sitting, standing, walking, lifting, talking, hearing, reading and writing.
Work environment:
General office and classroom environment. Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are no hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, etc. Work is generally performed within an office or classroom environment, with standard office equipment available.
Local and regional travel is necessary, so the ability to travel as needed is required.
Competencies:
Continuous Learning
Fostering Communication
Networking
Teamwork
Thinking Strategically
I'm not going to apply of course - I don't know any Potawatomi at all and have no Potawatomi blood. But I think it's great that the tribe works to keep their language alive. (I do have some Menominee blood from several generations back - my great-grandfather's great-grandfather. He was a farmer named John Elkins. I don't know how they ended up in Arkansas - where my great-grandfather's family was from before they moved to Indiana - since the Menonimee are predominately in Minnesota. Not enough to be legally Indian; it's just an interesting bit of family history. Every time I think about it, I remember Johnny Gage's conversation with Chet Kelly about Chet's supposed Cherokee princess ancestor and laugh.)
My step-kids both are 1/2 (K) or 1/4 (D) American Indian - one is part Blackfoot and Lakota Sioux and the other (they have different moms) is part Cherokee. Sadly, neither they nor their kids are interested in learning about their Indian heritage or registering with their tribes. I'm not sure why; it's definitely not because Irish has discouraged it. He doesn't know why either.
Well that was a bit of a tangent!
Language Apprentice
Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Ind - Dowagiac, MI
Part-time
Commitment to Citizen Service
Service encompasses all aspects of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians governmental operations. Every employee shares the responsibility to provide exemplary service, dignity, and respect to all Tribal Citizens, the Tribal Council, and staff members. To this end, all employees have an obligation to identify and report any service problems, issues, or concerns and through designated channels, initiate, recommend, and actively participate in solutions.
Position Summary: The Language Apprentice will work with the Language Specialist to achieve fluency in the Potawatomi Language. The Language Apprentice will learn and abide by proper Potawatomi etiquette. The Language Apprentice will also work cooperatively with the Language Program to develop and implement methods and strategies to help other Potawatomi Language students.
Essential Functions:
Participate in all master apprenticeship meetings with all master speakers;
Committing to immersion style learning at all times when attending master
apprenticeship sessions;
Maintaining the primary responsibility of documenting sessions through use of digital voice, photo, and video recordings with Master Speakers permission;
Utilizing language throughout the workday and in all other possible situations;
Practicing conversation exclusively in language with Master Speaker;
Addressing other language learners and teachers in the Potawatomi language in the community.
Assisting in the republishing of language material;
Demonstrating sensitivity and patience when working with master speakers, apprentices and other language learners and teachers;
Participating in language staff meetings and working with Language Coordinator to identify priorities;
Non-Essential Functions:
Perform other related functions as assigned.
Equipment:
Standard office equipment.
Systems used: MS Office Applications, Internet
Position Requirements:
High School Diploma or GED required.
Knowledge of Potawatomi Language required.
Experience working with Native American communities required.
Proficiency with MS Office Applications required.
Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to accommodate evening and weekend events.
Indian Preference
Pokagon Band Preference Code applies.
Physical Requirements:
Work involves sitting, standing, walking, lifting, talking, hearing, reading and writing.
Work environment:
General office and classroom environment. Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are no hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, etc. Work is generally performed within an office or classroom environment, with standard office equipment available.
Local and regional travel is necessary, so the ability to travel as needed is required.
Competencies:
Continuous Learning
Fostering Communication
Networking
Teamwork
Thinking Strategically
I'm not going to apply of course - I don't know any Potawatomi at all and have no Potawatomi blood. But I think it's great that the tribe works to keep their language alive. (I do have some Menominee blood from several generations back - my great-grandfather's great-grandfather. He was a farmer named John Elkins. I don't know how they ended up in Arkansas - where my great-grandfather's family was from before they moved to Indiana - since the Menonimee are predominately in Minnesota. Not enough to be legally Indian; it's just an interesting bit of family history. Every time I think about it, I remember Johnny Gage's conversation with Chet Kelly about Chet's supposed Cherokee princess ancestor and laugh.)
My step-kids both are 1/2 (K) or 1/4 (D) American Indian - one is part Blackfoot and Lakota Sioux and the other (they have different moms) is part Cherokee. Sadly, neither they nor their kids are interested in learning about their Indian heritage or registering with their tribes. I'm not sure why; it's definitely not because Irish has discouraged it. He doesn't know why either.
Well that was a bit of a tangent!