Art Meets Science: An Intern’s Reflection at ACRC
Hello my name is Lelehua Fujimoto Vertido and I’m an intern at ACRC through Sealaska Heritage Institute. I'm Alaska Native, grew up in Juneau, and I’m going into my second year at UAS as an Environmental Science major. Through this internship I gained valuable experiences and insight that I will carry with me wherever I go.
I was able to do a capstone project and I wanted to connect the core values of Sealaska to what I have done this internship. For my capstone I also wanted to include another one of my passions: art. Intertwining all of these elements resulted in four art pieces representing each core value of Sealaska in connection to my time here as an ACRC intern.
Haa Aaní - Our Land
Kax̲dig̲oowu Héen, Montana Creek, is one of the many sites that ACRC takes water samples from; this place was the first field site that I went to when starting my internship. ACRC utilizes these streams in Juneau to understand more about the relationship between the environment and water chemistry and what that means for juvenile salmon.
Montana Creek - Lelehua Fujimoto Vertido
Haa Shuká - Our Past, Present, and Future
ACRC respects the ecosystem that we live in and passes on knowledge to present and future generations through research papers and opportunities for students and young scientists in order to spread awareness, understanding, and facilitate positive change. Lab work is an integral part of this research and understanding. Through this I learned that every single step of the research is important.
ACRC Sample Lab - Lelehua Fujimoto Vertido
Haa Latseen - Our Strength and Leadership
Doing field work in Juneau takes a great deal of strength, perseverance, and adaptability. There is field work done every week here, if not once then multiple times a week. The rain seems never ending and no amount of raincoats seem to work, but despite it all, it always gets done. Every time I’ve been out I learned that there is always a way to make things work even if the variables are working against you.
Purple Coho - Lelehua Fujimoto Vertido
Wooch. Yax - Balance, Reciprocity, and Respect
I learned that the environment at my internship is one that is uplifting and supportive. There are a lot of independent projects but everyone is helping each other and working together whenever possible. On Mondays we have a meeting where we discuss a research paper, do a check in with everybody, and plan our week. Sometimes baked goods are brought in and while I was here there was even an ice cream social with homemade ice cream flavors! My favorite was the lemon blueberry and rhubarb ice cream.
Working Together - Lelehua Fujimoto Vertido
Through the lens of these values I was able to connect my internship to my culture and gain valuable experiences that build up my knowledge and accentuate my passion towards my degree. My time at ACRC was incredibly meaningful and opportunistic; I am so thankful to have been an intern here!