# Indigenous Internship Program > We offer paid internships for Indigenous students to explore research on how to create more sustainable marine shipping. Community first. That’s the philosophy behind providing Indigenous students with an opportunity to work on maritime-related issues that are important to Indigenous communities. Whether it’s understanding and conserving marine life, applying a medicine wheel approach to the well-being of communities affected by marine shipping, or mitigating the effects of invasive species on traditional food sources, this program will provide you with a unique opportunity for learning, with mentorship in many capacities. Learn more about the program from Sarah Thomas, Clear Seas’ COO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r2AjqWvntw The program offers a 4 to 6 months, hands-on, paid part-time learning and developmental experience that will: Allow you to mobilize your knowledge and passion for research Develop your skills as you address a key maritime-related research topic of importance to an Indigenous community Acquire knowledge and build meaningful relationships with communities, mentors, and fellow interns Explore potential careers through optional learning opportunities provided by Clear Seas staff and network experts Make a real difference in the state of research around sustainable marine shipping in Canada Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. No academic requirement or research experience necessary Must be a Canadian citizen and 19+ years to apply All Indigenous learners welcome The program runs twice a year depending on capacity The program start dates are May and November Program intake closes 2 months before the program start date Internship is designed to be remote with additional opportunities for on-the-land learning with your community partner. Projects are completed in 4 to 6 months with opportunities to extend. Conduct research on topics of your choice related to the marine ecosphere, environmental issues, and Indigenous priorities. Clear Seas advisors can help you refine your research ideas. Utilize diverse ways of knowing and doing throughout your research project such as Traditional Knowledge, on-the land practices, literature reviews, data analyses, and geographic information systems. If there is a practice you want to learn, let your mentor know and we can build those skills. Be partnered with a dedicated Clear Seas staff mentor to support you throughout your project length. Connect and learn from experts, knowledge keepers, academic advisors, and industry connections to build a network of meaningful long-term relationships. Final projects can be anything from videos, workshops, and presentations to articles, environmental data scans, maps, or comprehensive reports. Ultimately, the internships are a process, not an outcome. Projects abide by OCAP® principles ensuring your data and the partnered community’s data is protected. Receive $10,000 in research stipends with additional funding to support training, travel, materials, and honorariums. Apply Now Beyond the Mine | Krista Caspick Water Sampling in the Peace Region of British Columbia | Avery Lane Disappeared at the Water's Edge | Klarke Shpiruk Caring For Our Waters, Honouring Our Traditions | Suzanne Van Ryk Rediscovering Traditional Textile Methods Of Tsleil-Waututh Nation | Tia Rose Traditional Food Sources of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation | Tia Rose Impact of Invasive Species on Traditional Lands and Waters | Tia Rose Threading the Needle | Teyohà:te Brant StoryMap Chum Salmon in British Columbia | Teagan Martins November 2025 Cohort May 2025 Cohort May 2024 Cohort Bringing Inuit Knowledge into Health and Safety on the Ice | Saila Ipirq-Procy Growing Knowledge: Gavin Woodburn’s Journey with Kwiakah Clam Gardens Research into Traditional Canoe Culture | Zoe George Mitigating Underwater Noise with Indigenous Knowledge | Chanessa Perry  Applying Traditional Knowledge to Protect Whales | Chanessa Perry A day in the Life on a Coast Guard Research Vessel Voices of the Program: Meet the interns from the 2023 cohort Voices of the Program: Meet the interns from the 2021 cohort A Day in the Life on a Coast Guard Research Vessel | Chanessa Perry Clam Gardens - Ancient Indigenous technology and sustainable food source | Gavin Woodburn Lode Star | Stephany Clouatre-Groleau Lode Star | Avery Lane World Ocean Day LinkedIn Post | Stephany Clouatre-Groleau CBC Interview on Ice Safety in the Arctic | Saila Ipirq-Procyk  Vancouver’s growing marine traffic is putting Indigenous canoe culture at risk, says First Nations researcher – CTV Article | Zoe George “I arrived in the role of this internship as an Indigenous woman seeking to work with nearby nations toward food sovereignty, food sustainability and to support the resurgence of land and marine-based learning. What drives me in all the work I do is a desire to engage with and maintain Traditional Ecological Knowledge.” Cheyenne Williams Quw’utsun Tribes, Coast Salish territory “As a young Indigenous woman working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this research internship was a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field. Being a part of this invasive species research on Haida Gwaii, has inspired me to continue to challenge the colonial ways of knowing which dominate the field and the systematic barriers that affect and silence Indigenous peoples.” K’aayhldaa Xyaalaas (Rayne Boyko) Haida Gwaii “When I was offered the opportunity to learn and do research with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation I chose to examine the impacts of Marine Shipping in the Burrard Inlet on the health and well-being of the Tsleil-Waututh people […] I hope to continue this work over the upcoming summer, […] with the intention of grounding and deepening the project, and to eventually use it to bridge the innermost circle of community wisdom, to the outermost circle of policy change and sustainability.” Charity Champagne Métis and Cree How do I get started?+ Start by going to our online application form and telling us about yourself and the type of project you are interested in. Upon receiving this, we’ll contact you for next steps. Where do the internships take place?+ Interns can reside in any part of Canada and may or may not be based on their Nations’ traditional territories. You can do on-site research in a community and work with advisors online. What are the costs? How much can I earn through this internship?+ The program has been set up at no cost to applicants. Interns will receive a payment of $10,000 for each 4–6 month internship project. Additional funding to support training, travel, or conference attendance is available. What kind of research can be undertaken as part of the program?+ Ultimately, it’s your choice. You can conduct research or answer a question about marine shipping and its impact on the environment or communities. Examples of prior research have included such topics as shipping risk, invasive species, clam gardens and oil pollution. Advisors will be available to help you scope the project and make connections with potential partners. What if I don’t have an idea for a research project?+ We can meet with you to discuss research topics of interest. Fill out an application form to get started. What kinds of ways of knowing and doing (methodologies) can be used?+ Your project does not have to be a traditional research project. You could include Traditional Knowledge, storytelling, on-the-land practices, literature reviews, comparative studies, or geographic information systems. It is up to you. What does the end of my research project look like?+ Past interns have ended their internships with a presentation, a workshop, a paper, a video, an environmental data scan, or an article on what you’ve learned and will continue to learn. Ultimately, internships are a process, not an outcome. The work that you do is centered on furthering your learning journey and contributing positive capacity to your community. What happens with my research?+ The data and research collected by you belong to you and your partnered community. Clear Seas holds no ownership and will only share the information as determined by you and your community. A data sharing agreement will be developed and signed between you, the Indigenous community, Clear Seas and any other partners. When will I hear back about my application? + You can expect to be contacted by a member of the Indigenous Programs team within one week of submitting your application. I represent an Indigenous community. How can we become involved or support an intern?+ If your community would like to propose a project or if you would like to support an intern, please contact contact the Program Lead (contact details below). I represent a company or organization in the maritime industry. How can we become involved with the Indigenous Internship program?+ We welcome maritime connections and relevant project opportunities for our interns. If you have a project idea or if you would like to support an intern throughout their project, contact the Program Lead (contact details below). Does your community want to support an internship? Contact Stephanie Hurlburt, Indigenous Program Lead: stephanie.hurlburt@clearseas.org The Indigenous Internship Program was developed and launched in 2021, as part of Clear Seas’ mandate to conduct inclusive maritime-related research that considers Traditional Knowledge and builds research capacity within Indigenous communities. The program aims to develop partnerships with Indigenous communities across Canada by collaborating on research projects of mutual interest. This initiative is conducted in collaboration with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization that drives innovation through partnerships.