The Language and Archives Mentorship Program (LAMP), managed by the Center’s Language Vitality Initiative, aims to support members of existing Indigenous or minoritized language efforts in their reclamation work. The program provides direct mentorship to assist practitioners in navigating collection databases, understanding rights agreements, and fostering the relationships involved in accessing collections.
Update: As of March 2024, the mentorship program is paused, and we are no longer accepting applications.
The three- to four-month unpaid virtual internship program is designed to fit within individuals’ existing obligations. The goals of the mentorship are collaboratively established and can vary based on applicant interest and goals. Mentees can learn about Smithsonian archival protocols and gain experience with virtual collections access systems. In many cases, the mentorship includes discussions on intellectual property, copyright, archival access policies, and shared stewardship.
“I really appreciated all this support I received from the Smithsonian Institution. It was nice to be able to email different archivists throughout the institution and have them email me back with information… I had a terrific time and came back with a lot of resources. I felt like I was genuinely supported.”
—Survey feedback from a LAMP participant
Mentorship Overview
- Two to four months, five hours per week time commitment
- Fully remote, unpaid
- Must be an active individual or working group in an existing Indigenous or minoritized language project
- Must propose how Smithsonian resources could support your language project
- Rolling application deadline