First Nations Development Institute (www.firstnations.org) is a Native American economic development organization located in Longmont, Colorado. First Nations Development Institute was founded in 1980 with the mission to assist Native communities in controlling their assets and in building capacity to direct their economic future.
First Nations Development Institute in partnership with Ogallala Commons (www.ogallalacommons.org), a Great Plains education organization, is seeking to create 3 summer internships to provide college students with skill building, career exploration, and experience working with Native American nonprofit or tribal organizations. Internships opportunities are available at Oglala Sioux Parks & Recreation Authority on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, at The Notah Begay III Foundation Inc. in Santa Ana Pueblo in Bernalillo, New Mexico, and at First Nations office in Longmont, Colorado.
Qualifications – A candidate for these internships must have:
• Native American preference
• An interest in policy research and issues that affect Indigenous peoples particularly Native agriculture and food systems and Native American health and wellness
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Strong computer skills
• Be currently pursuing a degree on a full-time basis as either a junior, senior, or graduate student at the time the internship begins
• Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
Students in the following fields of study are preferred:
• Native American Studies
• Agriculture
• Sociology
• Political Science
• Geography
• Law
• Anthropology
• Environmental Studies
• Public Health
• Health Education
These internships will be structured for 230-250 total hours during an 8-9 week period from June 1-Aug. 1, 2013, and the stipend payment will be $2,100.
As a participant of Ogallala Commons Community Internship Program, the intern must also meet the following requirements (non-stipend time) to receive all three stipend payments:
• With supervisor, craft a Work Plan
• Attend an Orientation in Dumas, Texas (May 28–30, 2013—travel and expenses are covered by Ogallala Commons)
• Create and publish 5 Internet blog postings with 10 photos during internship period (learn more atwww.ogallalaintern.blogspot.com)
• Conduct an “Explore Your Community” exercise
• Do 10 hours of Community Service during internship period
• Prepare Internship Portfolio (via PowerPoint) and present a Harvesting Ceremony
• Prepare an Evaluation of the internship, as well as receive an evaluation from supervisor
To receive an application form for these internships, please contact Julie Hodges, OC Education Coordinator:[email protected] or 806-445-6075 or by contacting Marsha Whiting, Senior Program Officer, First Nations Development Institute: mwhiting or 303-774-7836.