This summer, we are once again fortunate to offer summer positions on the WAYK team during the 2020 Summer Language Intensive. These positions are sponsored by our host community, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, located in beautiful North Vancouver, British Columbia.
Participating in a WAYK summer project is one of the best ways to be fully immersed in the work of language revitalization, experience hands-on work with community members, support learners as they strive for fluency, and learn about the WAYK method itself. Summer Intensive alumni have developed strong WAYK skills as a result of their experiences, and we love that many of them have returned to work with WAYK again. In fact, each year we aim to bring at least one “returner” with us who has participated in a previous Summer Intensive to share their knowledge and deepen their skill.
Because our summer team is supported by the host community, each participant will have their transportation, lodging, and food costs covered for the summer. While we are not able to offer paid positions, the only personal expense to attend the Summer Intensive as part of the WAYK team will be incidental purchases. The summer intensive is a long project (8 weeks in 2020), running from June 26th to August 23rd. We give priority consideration to applicants who are available for the entire length of the project, since, of course, it is the most effective use of the host community’s funding.
WAYK is now accepting applications for this year’s summer team. We are looking for Indigenous language activists, university students, teachers, and other professionals with a variety of skills and interests including language acquisition, education, linguistics, neuroscience, computer programming, film, theater, writing, and more. The ideal WAYK intern is someone who has a great sense of humor, is self-aware, flexible, adaptable, and, above all, ethical and honorable.
We are looking for applicants who are open-minded and sensitive to other cultures and cultural protocols, take feedback and criticism well, work well as part of a team, know how to take the spotlight as a leader and how to help discreetly from behind the scenes, and are somehow both realistic and optimistic about the uphill battle of language revitalization. Every summer, our WAYK team needs to be passionate and curious, willing to go the extra mile for language, and (of course) be considerate, responsible housemates! If this sounds like you (or someone you know) we encourage you to apply!
Simone, Josh, Robyn, Jenna, Susanna, and Evan say good bye at the end of a great Summer Intensive! 
Susanna, Robyn, and Josh work on a puzzle during their downtime at the WAYK House. 
Simone, Josh, Robyn, Jenna, and Evan enjoy sparkling conversation and a delicious dinner at the WAYK house. 
Jenna, Robyn, and Josh conquer Quarry Rock on a weekend hike. 
Jenna, Simone, and Josh walk between the trees with no fear at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. 
Samuel came to visit the 2019 SLI for a week. Here he is with Josh, Simone, Nick, Jenna, Char, Robyn, Susanna, Swo-wo, and Evan outside of the WAYK House
Timeline For 2020 Summer Team Applications:
Application Period February 17, 2020—March 13, 2020
Application Deadline March 13, 2020 (11:59 PM Pacific Time!)
Application Review & Interviews March 13, 2020—April 6, 2020
Final Selections April 6, 2020
Orientation & Training Teleconferences April 2020—June 2020
N.B. Attendance at all preliminary teleconferences is required. (Teleconferences are tentatively scheduled for Fridays @ 1 pm Pacific)
Summer Intensive June 26, 2020—August 23, 2020
Before you start the application, it is essential that you check out the other information we publish about this project:
- To learn more about what to expect from a WAYK summer internship, click here. (Please read these expectations thoroughly!)
- To learn more about what our summer schedules have been like in the past, and to see our tentative schedule for this summer, click here. (Please review the schedule thoroughly!)
- To see the answers to some common questions about joining the 2020 WAYK summer team, click here.
- To learn more about our project and the host community, click here.
To get started on your application, click here.
