Bandelier National Monument- Traditional Trades Advancement Program Individual Placement

Title: Bandelier National Monument- ALCC Traditional Trades Advancement Program Individual Placement

Dates:  June 2024-November/December 2024

Stipend: $600 weekly living stipend + $120 weekly housing allowance

Term: 26 weeks – Full time (40 hours a week)

Reports To:  National Park Service - Bandelier National Monument 

Location: 15 Entrance Road, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544

Status: 900-hour AmeriCorp Service Term

Housing: Yes- paid housing is offered on site

Open Positions: 2

Benefits:  AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,447.50 after successful completion of service term, professional development funds available and paid professional development opportunity to travel to Historic Preservation Fundamentals Training in Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming (July 1-5, 2024). Public Land Corp Hiring Authority Eligible. 

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps’ (ALCC) Mission

It is the mission of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to "lead our nations back to cultural and ecological well being." The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps has offices in Acoma, Albuquerque, Gallup (Navajo Nation), Zuni, and Hopi. Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps serves local Indigenous communities in the regions we operate. 

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

Indian Youth Service Corps Mission:

The Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) is a new Department of Interior (DOI) program within the Public Land Corps initiative to provide opportunities for Native American youth to engage in public service, perform meaningful conservation projects on federal and Tribal lands, and stimulate interest in conservation-related careers. The IYSC is designed to be a collaborative program that provides shared benefits to program participants, tribes, federal and tribal land partners, and to the general public.

The Historic Preservation Training Center’s Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) is excited to offer an IYSC component to its program to provide indigenous youth quality hands-on experience in the preservation and maintenance of historic resources of cultural importance to indigenous peoples on National Park Service sites.

National Park Service Mission:

Our Mission The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.

The National Park Service and Historic Preservation Training Center are seeking individuals to participate in the Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) at Bandelier National Monument.  Members will receive introductory training in preservation masonry and will develop an understanding of historic resource stewardship while helping to preserve our nation’s historic resources. This program provides participants with marketable skills and excellent exposure to the historic preservation career field within the NPS as well as the private sector.

NPS - Bandelier National Monument Overview

The Ancestral Pueblo people lived here from approximately 1150 CE to 1550 CE. They built homes carved from the volcanic tuff and planted crops in mesa top fields. Corn, beans, and squash were central to their diet, supplemented by native plants and meat from deer, rabbit, and squirrel. Domesticated turkeys were used for both their feathers and meat while dogs assisted in hunting and provided companionship.

By 1550, the Ancestral Pueblo people had moved from this area to pueblos along the Rio Grande. After over 400 years the land here could no longer support the people and a severe drought added to what were already becoming difficult times. Oral traditions tell us where the people went and who their descendants are. The people of Cochiti Pueblo, located just south and east along the Rio Grande, are the most direct descendants of the Ancestral Pueblo people who built homes in Frijoles Canyon. Likewise, San Ildefonso is most closely linked to Tsankawi.

Overview of NPS - Bandelier National Monument Facilities Management Division - Preservation Program 

Bandelier National Monument Facilities Management division and is the Preservation Program charged with the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and stewardship of historic structures within Bandelier National Monument (BAND). The park has a wide range of resources under our care. BAND has the largest group of intact Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) structures within the National Park Service, with 31 Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) structures that act as the Visitor Center, Museum, seasonal residences, and staff offices and is also a National Historic Landmark District (NHL District). In addition to the CCC resources, we are also charged with the care of Ancestral Puebloan sites, including large pueblos, kivas, and a unique site type called cavates, within the frontcountry and high visitor use areas.

TTAP Bandelier National Monument Individual Placements Overview:

Projects identified for TTAP interns include working on ancestral Puebloan sites located in Bandelier National Monument. This work includes doing masonry work at archaeological sites along the main trail system. It will also entail candidates learning NPS documentation methodologies such as condition assessments, photo documentation, entering data into the appropriate work logs and attaining the skills and knowledge to complete and mitigate what's been identified through the data compiled.
In addition, Interns will get hands-on training and safe use of various equipment such as table saws, Circular saw, Hand tools (planers, crosscut saws, drawknives) and will get extensive hands-on work in the masonry portion of preservation work.  This will include learning soil compositions, and mixtures based on ratios appropriate to color and durability for specific uses. Candidates will have the opportunity to work on wooden elements throughout the CCC Historic district. This work includes repair and maintenance of historic windows, doors, etc.

There are much more than the physical labor aspect of a trades program.   Many opportunities are afforded to assist various departments and their staff within Bandelier National Monument. these departments include Ecology, Cultural Resources, Fire, Law enforcement and Interpretation. This type of networking exposes the candidate to a broad range of career opportunities which may interest them to continue their career within the National Park service.
in addition to these within the park, field visits are taken to various museums, institutions, and other local parks. These include Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico Center for Archaeological studies, NM State Archives, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, and the prestigious School for Advanced Research. In these visits interns are able to meet professional staff in their respective fields that include Osteologists, Anthropologists, Illustrators, Carbon Data specialists, exhibit planners and designers, and at times the directors of these institutions themselves. 

1. Identification and Assessment of walls to be stabilized at Tyuonyi Pueblo ancestral site. and Longhouse Pueblo ancestral site.

    i. Assist park staff in identification and assessment of areas of concern on walls.
    ii. Photo documentation of entire wall and affected portions of wall.
   iii. Architectural condition assessment of identified wall.
    iv. review data and decision on hot to proceed with preservation methods.

2. Implementing Stabilization Work on walls at Tyuonyi and Long House Pueblo sites.   

i. Identification of soil composition, including clays, and sands. techniques on application and color tints.
   ii. Tool identification and proper use specific to masonry and stonework.
   iii. Proven techniques and methodologies used for proper and complete and satisfactory preservation work. 
   iv. Completing and detailed documentation which includes photos of completed work. recordkeeping, annotation of photos and entering data into appropriate NPS Data logs.

3. Identify and assess wooden elements to be replaced in CCC Historic District of Bandelier National Monument-Vigas Beam End Replacements

    i. Assist and shadow NPS staff in identifying, assessing and documenting vigas ends in CCC historic Buildings that need replacing. Photo and paper documentation is included in this portion.
   ii. Removal of Vigas beam end utilizing both hand and mechanized tools)chisels, mallets, hammers, wood wedges. 
   iii. hand shaping, hand hewing and prepping of new replacement vigas beam ends.
    iv. Replacing beam ends and remortaring of beams. 
    v. complete documentation of all work. includes photo documentation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Any experience or education in relative fields (not required)
• Individuals from associated Pueblos/Tribes/Communities of Bandelier National Monument are  encouraged to apply.

Minimum requirements:

• Must have a valid drivers license
• Must pass required background checks 
• Must be ages 18-30, 35 if Veteran honorably discharged
• Must have personal vehicle to commute and/or to access local stores/facilities – closest town: Flagstaff, AZ. 
• Moderate to heavy physical effort is required for this position, including, lifting, or handling of objects over 50lbs using proper techniques.
• Standing or kneeling for long periods and will be required to climb ladders, work from scaffolding or platforms, work on uneven or angled surfaces such as a roof, and/or be able to work in confined spaces.
• Ability to work 8–10-hour days in various conditions and/or “hitch schedule” 
• Willingness to learn and work as part of a team.
•  Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Positive Attitude

• Seeking committed individuals

Individuals from associated Pueblos/Tribes/Communities of Bandelier National Monument encouraged to apply.

To apply, please submit an updated resume and letter of interest/cover letter along with your online application.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ancestral Lands Individual Placements Program Coordinator, Kiana Etsate-Gashytewa at kiana@conservationlegacy.org