Island Studies interns off to Chiloé Island

The Institute of Island Studies (IIS) will be sending two interns, Ivan Skafar and Marianne Rehder, to the small island of Chiloé in southern Chile next week.

Although literally on the other end of the earth, Chiloé has a lot in common with PEI. For one, it is in the same time zone and is as far south of the equator as PEI is north. It has about twice the land area, but a similar population size, and the economy is dominated by aquaculture, fisheries, agriculture, and forestry. Tourism is seasonal but growing in importance. Like PEI, Chiloé has an active NGO sector and is richly endowed with artists, musicians and artisans and is famous for the beauty of its land and seascapes, and for its potatoes.

This is the fourth time in five years that IIS interns have gone south to work with the indigenous Williche people of Chiloé. Interns typically spend time learning about Mi'kmaq culture on PEI before they leave, and then tell their stories about Chiloé to a variety of community and academic audiences when they return. The internships represent a bridge between Mi'kmaq and Williche peoples, between NGOs on both islands, and between UPEI and the much smaller university of ARCIS Patagonia. The interns' efforts help to document, celebrate and exchange knowledge about these islands, their common concerns and their indigenous cultures.

In the past, interns have done research on the medicinal uses of sea plants, the role of social and cultural enterprise in Chiloé's economy, and the interactions of young people with marine resources. This year, the interns will work with the Williche Health Centre to develop educational tools and activities on health and environmental issues. Their target audience will be indigenous youth and their parents.

Marianne, the daughter of Island musician John Rehder, smiles widely when she explains, 'We are looking forward to the opportunity of working with the Mi'kmaq as well as the Williche aboriginal people in order to learn from them and to assist this unique exchange that has been created.' She and Ivan, who hails from Quebec, will be leaving on November 2 and returning in late March. They will then take up positions with the IIS for two months to complete the Canadian portion of their internship.