Museum Programs: Historic Downtown Mackinac, American Indian Interpreter

Department: Museum Programs
Locations: Historic Downtown Mackinac, Mackinac Island
Start/End Date: Early June through August, approximately 15 weeks
Pay Rate: Starting at $14.00/hr

Accepting applications for the 2026 season. 

Scope of Duties:
This position serves visitors to Mackinac State Historic Parks (MSHP) by working as a historic interpreter at the Biddle House, featuring the Mackinac Island Native American Museum, on Mackinac Island. This position is responsible for interpreting the history of Native Americans on Mackinac Island during the early 19th century.

Responsibilities:

Historic Downtown Mackinac:

1. Put visitors to our sites on Mackinac Island and other MSHP site first by treating them with respect, serving their needs, and providing and enjoyable and educational experience.
2. Present formal daily programs focusing on the Anishnaabek of northern Michigan, the 1836 Treaty of Washington, and merchants on Mackinac Island in the early 19th century.
3. Present informal interpretive programs about Mackinac Island in the 1820s and 1830s focusing on Indigenous treaty rights and negotiations and other appropriate topics at the Biddle House.
4. Wear and interpret recreates clothing and accouterments that reflect the appearance of Odawa or Ojibwa peoples in the 1830s.
5. Present formal and informal interpretative programs about the history and traditions of the Odawa and Ojibwa, including their role in the Great Lakes fur trade, their relationship with Europeans, their technology, material culture, foodways, and their social structures.
6. Help demonstrate the diverse community of Mackinac Island and the role of blended families, like the Biddle’s, in the 1830s.
7. Help maintain the Biddle House garden, kitchen tools, supplies, chop firewood, laundry, tools, and equipment.
8. Participate in other regularly scheduled interpretive presentations and special events as required.

Position Requirements:

1. Must have an interest in public history and historical interpretation and be dedicated to public engagement and education.
2. Must be outgoing, enthusiastic, self-motivated, and have strong public speaking skills.
3. Must have an interest in the interpretation of Native American traditions and history
4. Membership in a federally recognized upper Great Lakes Odawa or Ojibwa tribal band is strongly preferred but is not a requirement of employment.
5. Experience with, or interest in, learning historic interpretation, historically appropriate traditions such as quillwork, beadwork, leather work, birchbark construction, stone and wood carving, fish net making, gardening, and cooking are recommended.
6. Must be able to follow verbal and written directions and be able to verbally communicate with visitors and coworkers.
7. Must be able to work at the assigned position length. Positions range from approximately 15 weeks, from early June to late August.

Work Location and Schedule:
This is a full-time seasonal position, which typically works 40 hours per week for approximately 15 weeks. The workstation for this position is Historic Downtown Mackinac on Mackinac Island, although the employee may be required to work at other MSHP park sites. The position is based both indoors in historic structures and outdoors on site. Work schedules are posted in advance and are subject to change depending on park operational needs. The employee must be willing to work independently and may be asked to work evenings, holidays, and/or weekends as park needs dictate.

Physical Requirements:
Stretching and bending are moves commonly made throughout the day by employees in this position. The employee must have the ability to do the following activities, with or without, reasonable accommodation: frequent lifting, carrying, transporting, loading and unloading of supplies, walking long distances and on rough terrain, frequent twisting, bending, stooping, reaching and grasping, sitting and/or standing for long periods of time, and ability to utilize ferry boat transportation to and from Mackinac Island. The employee will be required to wear a historic costume or a uniform as required while working indoors and outdoors in various weather conditions. This position will be exposed to extreme heat conditions working near an open hearth within historic buildings and outdoors around the site; individual must be able to work in this type of environment.

Dress Code:
MSHP maintains a dress code for employees in the public service to promote a productive and safe work environment and to maintain MSHP’s public image. This means no inappropriate hairstyles, jewelry, clothing or fashion statements are allowed. Employees are required to be in approved park costume at all times while on duty, which includes the wearing of proper footwear. MSHP will furnish the employee with the required costume items which must be returned at the end of seasonal employment. Violation of the dress code may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.

Supervision:
The employee works under the direction of the Interpretation Coordinator and the Historic Downtown Lead Interpreter.

General Position Information:
This is a temporary seasonal at-will position which serves at the will of the employer and does not include recall rights or benefits (other than those mandated by governmental laws). This position will expire at the time employment is ended for the season and the employee does not have recall rights to this or any other MSHP position in the future. Specifically, the park is under no obligation to hire the individual in subsequent seasons. The number of weeks and hours worked may vary as park needs dictate. Additional information will be provided upon employment.

Due to the high volume of applications, only those applicants invited to interview will be contacted.

Click here to fill out an application.

Questions or cannot apply online?
Please contact:
Employment
P.O. Box 873
Mackinaw City, MI 49701
231-436-4100 x111