University of Alberta

Engage North

How It Works

About the Internship Program

The Engage North Internship Program provides four-month placements with community-based organizations in Canada’s North.  The program is open to undergraduate studying at the University of Alberta. In Summer 2018 (May – August), six Internship opportunities are available in three communities with: Yellowknives Dene First Nation, NWT; Dene Tha’ First Nation, Alberta; and Beaver First Nation, Alberta. Prior to the placement, interns will participate in a comprehensive pre-departure training program, and will be matched with a advisor/mentor who will assist with any technical challenges encountered.

Applications and more information for Engage North’s 2018 Internships are available (2018 competition is now closed).

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the Engage North Internship program! You can reach Maggie Glasgow (Program Coordinator) at mglasgow@ualberta.ca

Positions:

Undergraduate students explore community positions beginning in early January. Application packages will be posted on the Engage North website as they become available, between January to March. Applications are adjudicated by a committee that includes Engage North staff and members of the host community. Interviews are conducted on North Campus.

Training:

Training Interns can expect to have two weeks of intensive cultural and personal development training before departure to their host community. Depending on availability, Elders and community members will be invited to speak about their communities and etiquette while in the communities. Other activities will include participating in the Blanket Exercise, sharing strategies to deal with being away from home, and connecting with their community partners and roommates.

Summer:

Interns will be provided transportation to their host community, with all expenses paid for. During their first few days in their new position, interns are introduced to community members, and undergo a community orientation. Throughout the summer, Engage North interns receive ongoing support from the program coordinator, including a community visit. At the end of the summer, interns return to the University of Alberta, and share their experiences while in their host communities. 

After Your Internship:

The Engage North Internship Program encourages lasting relationships between interns and their host communities. Opportunities to reconnect with communities may include volunteering for high school student visits to the University of Alberta, returning to the communities to introduce new interns to the community, engaging in workshops that include community youth, and returning to the community for special events and celebrations.

Additional Information

  • Am I Eligible

    Any student in good academic standing, who is registered at the time of application in a baccalaureate program at the University of Alberta in a discipline suitable to the community project being applied to, may apply for an internship position with Engage North.

    Examples of suitable disciplines include, but are not limited to:

    Lands and Consultation Internship:

    • Environmental and Conservation Sciences
    • Urban and Regional Planning
    • Civil Engineering

    Youth and Recreation Internship:

    • Education
    • Recreation, Sports and Tourism
    • Physical Education and Recreation
    • Social Work
    • Psychology
    • Native Studies

    Health and Wellness Internship:

    • Nursing
    • Social Work
    • School of Public Health
    • Biological Sciences
    • Native Studies

    Community Gardens and Environmental Education Internship:

    • Environmental and Conservation Sciences
    • Environmental Studies
    • Biological Sciences
    • Native Studies
  • How to Apply

    To apply for an Engage North internship, please send the following documents to mglasgow@ualberta.ca.

    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Two short essays (250 words maximum, each) answering the following questions:
      • What does reconciliation mean to you?
      • What might you contribute to community life in you host community?

    Be sure to check the Deadlines section for information on expected timelines of internship selection. Please be sure to indicate the internship you wish to apply for in the subject of your e-mail (example: Beaver First Nation Lands and Consultation Internship application).

  • Deadlines

    Interns have been selected for all 2018 summer positions. Please check back in February for details on how to apply for the summer of 2019.

    Typically, applications for all internships are due mid-March for the upcoming summer. Pre-departure training occurs the first two weeks of May, with interns departing for their respective communities in the third week of May.

  • What Will It Cost