The Native American Museum Fellowship (NAMF) Program is a ten-week paid fellowship that will introduce Native community members to the museum field through three weeks of seminar and workshops and seven weeks of an MNHS internship program. These ten weeks are designed to engage and expose fellows to relevant cultural resources within MNHS and partnership sites, the broader public history of Minnesota and neighboring states, and professional opportunities within the museum field– ranging from Tribal historic preservation to exhibit curation. Fellows will learn about career paths and the various requirements for working in museum spaces, both on and off of reservation lands, as well as the particular challenges faced by Native American communities in terms of preserving tribal history and disturbing the institutionalized historical narratives of who Native people were and are.

The first three weeks of the program will be an in-depth seminar that will focus on the function of museums, cultural resources, public history, and tribal historic preservation fields. Through a mix of readings, podcasts, videos, discussions, exhibit analyses and guest speakers, fellows will come to have a better understanding of the day-to-day workings of museums and historic sites, and the values and practices that inform these institutions. The cohort will travel often to MNHS partnering sites and will have the opportunity to visit various Native organizations in or around the Twin Cities. Fellows will be placed within the Minnesota Historical Society network for the remainder of the fellowship where they will complete a hands-on internship experience of their choice.

Participants in the program will receive a living expense stipend for the duration of the program as well as travel expense reimbursement, a stipend pending completion of the seminar portion of the program, and a paid internship for the remaining seven weeks.

Topics covered

Collections
Conservation
Tribal and Institutional Partnerships
Tribal Historic Preservation
Cultural Resource Stewardship
Exhibitions
Archaeology/NAGPRA
Section 106
And more!

Important dates

Priority Deadline: March 21, 2025
All application materials must be submitted or postmarked no later than April 4, 2025
Screening, interviewing: April 14-18, 2025
Confirmation of selection: April 25, 2025
Tentative program run dates: June 2 - August 8, 2025
- June 2 - June 20: In-person seminar (St. Paul, MN)
- June 23 - Aug. 8: Internships (virtual, hybrid, or in-person)
- In-person field experience (St. Paul and greater MN) throughout program dates
Please Note: Mileage and lodging will be covered or reimbursed to eliminate financial barriers during your time as a NAMF fellow.

Eligibility

The newly-revamped NAMF program is open to undergraduate students who are currently enrolled in a program for Spring 2025 or have recently graduated from a post-secondary school (trade, community, 2 or 4 year school) within the last year.

Community scholars must be 18 years of age or older, not enrolled in a college or university, and will have demonstrated knowledge relating to either: place-based learning rooted in cultural, environmental, and historical context, or; holding, practicing, and passing down traditions. Fellows are not required to be enrolled in a federally-recognized Tribe, but considered applicants must be affiliated with an Indigenous community.

Program requirements

NAMF is designed as a ten week hybrid program with a home base of the Minnesota History Center, located in St. Paul. The 3-week seminar portion of the program has mandatory in-person attendance to receive the full stipend. A 20-hour per week paid internship could be all in-person or hybrid, depending on the internship supervisor. Travel to historic sites and communities will be required throughout the program period with travel arranged through program staff.

Application process

The following materials must be submitted through the form at the bottom of this page, mailed, emailed, or dropped off on or before the posted deadline.

Native American Museum Fellowship Program

Within the application you will be asked to provide a Statement of Interest where we will you ask you these questions:

Please describe why you are interested in participating in the Native American Museum Fellowship. This is a chance for us to learn more about you and why you want to learn about representation within museums and other cultural institutions. (No more than 200 words.)
Please describe any experiences that you have had with museums. This can include visitation, classes, and professional experiences. These experiences can be positive or negative; please explain how this experience has shaped your opinion of museums and the field. (No more than 200 words.)
Please describe what community means to you and your relationship with your community. How do you think your experience in the fellowship might benefit your community? (No more than 200 words.)
The purpose of the Native American Museum Fellowship is to provide training and exposure to future Native museum leaders about careers, function, and issues within a museum. Through a seminar and a hands-on internship experience, a successful fellow will be well positioned to continue in their field through an academic and/or national museum fellowship program. Please tell us about your unique skills that you will bring to the program. This can include your academic and/or professional experience as well as personal experiences. (No more than 200 words.)

One letter of recommendation

Additional documents such as a resume and employment history may be attached but are not required for consideration

Please submit a completed application to: Jenesis Fonder, Program Specialist for NAMF, 345 Kellogg Blvd West, St. Paul, MN 55102.

For questions, contact Jenesis Fonder at jenesis.fonder@mnhs.org.

Selection process

Applicants applying before the priority deadline will be considered first. Applicants meeting the criteria will be selected for interviews with program staff. Applications will not be accepted into the program until a formal interview is conducted either via phone or virtual meetings. An interview does not guarantee selection into the program. Selection will be based on the information provided in the application form, supporting documentation, and the interview process.