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NARRATOR: The Native American Institute internship at
Michigan State University is a success. BITE: Bill Oeming
I got the biggest helping and chunk of fisheries and wildlife work that you could probably
ask to get in one summer anywhere. You know, let alone a beautiful place like Peshawbestown
right on Lake Michigan, out on the Leelanau Peninsula. So it was perfect for lack of a
better word. NARRATOR:
The new internship program provides Michigan State University students with practical,
hands-on experience. It also gives tribal offices across Michigan much needed support.
BITE: Erik Olsen We were a man down staff wise and that having
Bill Oeming, our tribal intern for the summer, allowed us to complete all of our standard
assessments, as well as, monitor the commercial fishery and do all those things that we normally
do even though we were a man down. BITE: Kira Davis
We have benefitted so much with their help. WeÕve tried to get interns before and we
just donÕt have the funding so this opportunity benefits not only the student but us.
NARRATOR: The internship is an opportunity for students
to not only work in their field but also learn a new culture.
BITE: Bill Oeming Even right off the bat they took me under
their wing and said youÕre here, youÕre one of us, youÕre part of the family and
I guess it was really sort of on my end to get used to that. By the end of it, we were
hugging, shaking hands, stuff like that. I really felt like I was a part of their culture
and I had never had that with any other internship before.
NARRATOR: And students are not the only ones learning.
BITE: Kira Davis One of the students, sheÕs in FFA and taught
me a lot about agriculture. So not only did she learn from me but I learned from her.
NARRATOR: There are also experiences to remember for
a lifetime. BITE: Bill Oeming
Bringing up our sampling net, gill net, we brought in like some perch, you know, a few
suckers, a whitefish or two and I saw my first lake trout. And I said Ôwow, itÕs my favorite
fish and I brought it out of the net and before they could even say anything I was just impulsive,
I just gave it a kiss.
BITE: Erik Olsen Bill was very enthusiastic. The first time
I think we caught a lake trout on the boat, he kissed it. And every time weÕd get a bigger
lake trout had to have a picture of him kissing the lake trout. Yea, he was fun to work with
in that respect. BITE: Kira Davis
It made me feel more positive about where weÕre going as far as environmental issues
because these students are so sharp. TheyÕre learning so much and it actually makes me
feel at ease to know that for generations to come these are the students that are going
to take over as far as battling environmental issues.
NARRATOR: Getting involved with the Native American
Institute internship at Michigan State University is important because. . .
BITE: Kira Davis Somebody has to do it and it is all of our
responsibility so however we can collaborate to get those funds together to do things like
this, and because these kids are going to be running this nation, itÕs very important.