Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations Internship Program
TheInstitute for Tribal Environmental Professionals(ITEP) received a generous grant from the Bay and Paul Foundations in 2022 to support the work of the Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations Programto build resilience and capacity within Indigenous communities by engaging Young Leaders through our internship program. ITEP is one of five programs housed under the Office of Native American and Indigenous Advancement (ONAIA) and serves as a catalyst among tribal governments, research and technical resources at Northern Arizona University (NAU), various federal, state, and local governments, and the private sector, in support of environmental protection of Indigenous and Tribal natural resources.
The Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations (TW7G) Internship Program will support up to eight interns who are current college or university students: two during the academic school year and up to six interns for the summer. Through this program, we are investing in our Young Leaders and honoring our Elders and Leaders who have continually voiced the need to prioritize youth engagement as a form of Indigenous resiliency.
These internships engage and emphasize intergenerational teachings between Elders and youth to pass on cultural teachings, language, and Traditional and Indigenous knowledges. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to learn about the latest Western science and educational tools and resources. The academic year interns work with theTW7G staff to learn about activities and efforts led by Indigenous communities nationwide through TW7G’s existing activities. Summer cohorts of interns work directly with host organizations from across the country to work on projects specifically benefiting Indigenousefforts.