Land Steward Fellowship

About

The Land Steward Fellowship will be offered to Indigenous Land Stewards who are interested in learning and gaining more insight to support ongoing land and water stewardship. This opportunity will strengthen pathways for fellows to become community leaders and gain the skills and training to begin the process of rebuilding healthy and vibrant culturally sustainable and generative communities. This fellowship will also offer succession planning to make space for the nurturing and cultivating of new leadership in tribal communities with financial support to support fellows in their work.

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Program Summary

This 6-month fellowship program was created to support individuals who are actively engaged in land based practices that uphold our responsibility as Indigenous peoples. As a community- based organization it is our obligation to offer resources and opportunities to people who are capable and ready for the next step with their projects or activities that they have been working on or involved with.

The fellows that are accepted will be able to gain more support, resources, and experience in the areas that they are interested in while receiving monetary support for their efforts. Fellows will also be responsible for engaging in a mentorship component and will receive a mentor who will be someone to help guide them and be there as another pillar of support throughout the duration of the fellowship.

Land Steward Fellowship Program Objectives

We will offer resources, training, and educational opportunities around topics and projects that the fellows are interested in. The fellowship will also offer mentorship opportunities for fellows to have an elder and peer mentor that they can go to throughout their fellowship. Through the fellowship program we hope to provide the fellows with the support needed to feel equipped to face the challenges in indigenous societies.

Commitment

Fellows will be able to demonstrate that they have the capacity to take leadership in their communities and create projects that fit into the vision of HTPI.

Fellows must commit to:

the time necessary to attend all Hopi Land Stewardship sessions and events;
be an active participant and contributor to the Land Steward Fellowship and agree to participate in all group learning activities and discussions;
acknowledge that missing more than 2 sessions will indicate that I have voluntarily withdrawn from the fellowship;
understand the financial responsibility of participating in this fellowship and will uphold responsible financial management;
take responsibility to be involved with the Mentor Council and utilize their knowledge and experience in my project throughout the fellowship; and
finish the fellowship and make an effort to create an engaging learning experience.

Curriculum

The curriculum will focus on the dynamics of understanding the cycles and impact that land-based practices have on all realms of life.

Fellowship curriculum will include:

Mentoring
Succession planning
Watershed protection and restoration
Hopi Lavayi
Traditional clanship land tenure and stewardship
Biodiversity of the SW region including flora/fauna
Local native plant identification and herbarium
Traditional hunting practices
And more!

Mentorship

The Mentorship Council is to provide guidance and mentorship for our first cohort of Fellows and so that our Fellows feel supported and nurtured within their work with the Hopi Tutskwa Land Steward Fellowship, we will identify and recruit a Mentor Council made up of 2 peers and 2 elders. The Mentorship Council will be actively involved throughout the duration of the Fellowship and after for feedback.

Mentors will be identified by their work and success around:

land/watershed protection;
restoration;
sustainable community-based agriculture;
and traditional ecological knowledge.

Expectations

Fellows will be responsible for proper time and money management with the financial support they will be receiving on behalf of HTPI Land Steward Fellowship Programming.

Fellows must:

be committed to finishing the 6-month duration of the fellowship;
fulfilling their projects;
upholding a positive and insightful relationship with all members of the Mentor Council;
expected to schedule and attend meetings with mentors; and
expected to attend at least 90% of training sessions, fellowship meetings and activities;
continue to support the Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute and Fellowship with 200 service hours within two-years after as part of my commitment to HTP;

FAQ

Application Process

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Completed application forms and required documents are due no later than 5:00 PM on April 7, 2023. Mailed application must be postmarked by April 7th, 2023.

Applications are available HERE or you can request for a copy at maree@hopitutskwa.org.

Once you complete your application with the required documents, you can submit them to:

Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute Land Steward Fellowship

P.O. Box 967

Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039

Or email to: maree@hopitutskwa.org

Selection Process

A selection committee made up of HTP alumni, staff, and a member of the BOD will review the application materials and make participant selections by April 14th. Only completed application packets will be considered and forwarded to the selection committee.

All applicants will be notified by April 17th, 2023 of their selection status via telephone and or email.

Required Documents

Please make sure you have all the materials needed in order to turn in a completed application.

2023 Application Form
Resume
Essay Questions
Recommendation Forms
Fellowship Contract - signed

Maree Mahkewa

Fellowship Coordinator

maree@hopitutskwa.org

Meet Maree Mahkewa, Fellowship Coordinator at Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute. Maree comes from the Village of Tewa and is Corn Clan. She will be point of contact for the Land Steward Fellowship Program, questions can be directed to her email at maree@hopitutska.org or you can fill out the form below and she will get back to you as soon as possible.

FAQ