Clear Seas, in partnership with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Mitacs, and the Students On Ice Foundation has started its largest-ever cohort of the Indigenous Internship Program which supports Indigenous-led research and builds long-term capacity in marine and environmental fields.
Since its launch in 2021, the internship program has provided a platform for emerging Indigenous scholars to explore critical topics such as Indigenous-led marine stewardship, sustainable harvesting practices, and whale strike mitigation strategies.
“As a Tsleil-Waututh Nation woman, this program means more than research to me, it’s about restoring community connections, amplifying Indigenous voices, and transforming how marine knowledge is created and shared,” said Sarah Thomas, Director of Indigenous Programs at Clear Seas. “I’m proud to support interns whose work uplifts their communities and challenges conventional approaches in environmental science.”
The paid, part-time internships allow interns to work remotely from their home communities across Canada. Co-developed with Indigenous knowledge holders, academic institutions, and industry partners, the program promotes inclusive knowledge-sharing that centers Indigenous values and Traditional Knowledge.
“BCIT recognizes the immense value of integrating Indigenous knowledge with scientific research,” said Dr. Jennifer Figner, BCIT’s Provost and Vice President, Academic. “Our involvement in Clear Seas’ Indigenous Internship Program allows us to support a unique model of knowledge sharing that strengthens marine stewardship and creates pathways for Indigenous leadership in environmental fields.”
Clear Seas’ partners also highlight the program’s importance in bridging Indigenous and academic knowledge.
“This internship gave me the opportunity to reconnect with Traditional Knowledge while working on a real-world issue impacting my people,” said Chanessa Perry, a member of the 2023–2024 cohort who studied how Traditional Knowledge can be applied to prevent whale strikes on BC’s coast.
Clear Seas is a Canadian not-for-profit organization that provides independent fact-based information to enable industry, governments, and the public to make informed decisions on marine shipping issues. The Students on Ice Foundation Blue Futures Pathways program connects people aged 15-35, particularly Indigenous youth, with education, jobs, and funding in the emerging Sustainable Blue Economy. This initiative is endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
