Student to spend summer working in Washington, DC

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Hard work and dedication is what it takes to land a summer internship at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

At least that's what it took for Malaspina First Nation student Rose Alexis.

Alexis learned about the student opportunities offered at the Smithsonian through a conversation while completing a one-year internship at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que. She then applied for the summer position with the Smithsonian and gratefully accepted a 10-week internship that will commence June 6.

"It's great to be apart of this internship," Alexis said. "It's definitely a compliment and it will help with future goals."

There are 16 museums within the Smithsonian Institute that cover a variety of special interests. There is a space museum, a postal museum and the newly opened National Museum of the American Indian. That's where Alexis will be working.

Alexis will be interning with Gail Joice, collections manager at the museum on the Mall. She will be assisting with a major special exhibition called Hearing our Ancestors Voice-Art of the Pacific North Coast.

"To me it all boils down to reclaiming our cultural identity," Alexis said. "It's interesting to see a lot of what the other tribal group are doing with regards to their cultural heritage."

Alexis is a member of the Okanagan First Nation in Vernon. However, her studies at Malaspina University?College in Nanaimo helped her to better understand the First Nations culture and tweaked her interest in the museum and heritage sector.

Alexis admitted it's been a lot of hard work so far, but she credits her family and friends for their support.

Alexis is a full-time student at Malaspina University-College registered in the First Nations Studies program. She will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in June 2006. Alexis took her education a step further and enrolled part-time in the Cultural Resource Management program, which specializes in museum studies. She did this while in her third year at Malaspina.

Upon graduation from Malaspina University-College, Alexis hopes to seek employment in the heritage sector.

When asked about future employment, either in the United States or in Canada, she said "I don't have anything set in stone. I'm really open to all avenues in the heritage sector."

The collections area of the National Museum of the American Indian is where Alexis will be spending some of her time. Collections includes materials, not only of cultural, historical, and aesthetic interest, but also of spiritual significance.

Repatriation is another key concern that is being addressed by the museum. The term repatriation means to send or bring (a person or object) back to his or her country.

According to the museum Web site, human remains and objects used for burial or funerals that are owned by a tribal group, or property or any holdings acquired illegally, are returned upon request to individual families or tribal groups.

"Reclaiming our voices through the objects is vital," Alexis said.

According to Alexis, self-identity and staying focused is the key to success in her type of work.

"Know who you are as an Aboriginal person and stay focused in your education," she said.