YOUTH | IAC

YOUTH PROGRAM

OUR MISSION

EDUCATE AND EMPOWER NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH

In response to the growing age gap in the agriculture industry, IAC prioritized creating youth programs. We wholeheartedly believe that youth are the future and deserve a running start.

The Youth Program provides internships, funding assistance with scholarships, and technical assistance to support youth agricultural endeavors.

Current Opportunities

Bob Miller Memorial Scholarship

National Youth Advisory Council

Summer Internships

UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS

IAC Rocky Mountain Youth Regional Summit

June 13-14

The Rocky Mountain Youth Regional Summit will include 2 days of informative sessions, along with on-site demonstrations. Topics will range from community development, natural resources, food sovereignty, Tribal enterprise, Native climate resources, youth loans, and USDA opportunities. Breakfast and lunch will included for attendees both days.

Contact: Sunshine Tso - sunshine@indianag.org

Venue Address:

Big Horn Resort 1801 Majestic Ln, Billings, MT 59102

IAC Great Plains Youth Regional Summit

July 29-30

The Intertribal Agriculture Council Youth Program invites you to participate in the first ever Great Plains Regional Youth Summit! This summit will be held in Bismarck, North Dakota on July 29-30. The Great Plains Regional Youth Summit will include 2 days of informative sessions, along with on-site demonstrations. Topics will range from community development, natural resources, food sovereignty, Tribal enterprise, Native climate resources, youth loans, and USDA opportunities.

Youth ages 14-26 are welcome to apply. All youth under the age of 21 will need to be accompanied by a chaperone.

Breakfast and lunch will be included for attendees both days.

Contact: Sunshine Tso - sunshine@indianag.org

Venue Address:

Bismarck Hotel and Conference Center (TBD)

Bismark, ND

Bob Miller Memorial Scholarship

2024 Bob Miller Memorial Scholarship

Up to twenty-four (24) recipients will receive a $2,000 scholarship, receiving $1,000 in the fall semester and $1,000 in the spring semester.

Students that have participated in Intertribal Agriculture Council's (IAC) Youth activities are eligible to apply for the Bob Miller Memorial Scholarship. Previous youth involvements include participation in lAC Youth Summits, Internships, and Essay Contests. Past Scholarship recipients are eligible to apply in a concurrent year and are considered against the entire applicant pool.

Preference will be given to full-time, undergraduate students. Part-time or graduate students will be considered after full-time, undergraduate students.

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25.

Apply by Friday, March 29th, 2024 at 11:59 PM (PST).

Submit an Application

Transcript/Academic Admission Documentation

Returning College Students: Students must provide an unofficial copy of their college transcripts
First-Time College Students: Students must provide an admission letter and a copy of their high school transcripts
Application Essay

Two (2) Professional Reference Letters

Cover Letter

Resume

Please attach a written essay (typed using Times New Roman, 12-point font; between 500 and 1,500 words) to help us understand how agriculture has made an impact in your life and community.

Please expand on your future goals and aspirations in an agriculture-related field or occupation. Here are some questions and topics from which to draw inspiration when writing your essay:

How does continuing your education and/or future career goals enhance the traditional and cultural food systems in your community?
Define the following terms in your own words: Food access, Preservation, and Agriculture
In which ways do traditional knowledge and practices play a role in your community's food system? How will you make a difference?
What role does agriculture play in your community?
What agriculture resources does your community rely on?
Do the resources work for your community? Do you see a need for improvement?
In your community, how do agriculture and cultural preservation overlap?

(Note: You are not required to answer these questions in your essay. They are simply meant to give you ideas and a starting point.)

One page, single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font, signed and dated at the bottom of the page

Provide contact information, including mailing address

Express how this scholarship will benefit your educational endeavors if awarded this scholarship
Illustrate why you are a qualified candidate for this scholarship program
Provide brief context about experiences with IAC and the impact IAC has had in your life

Name

Contact information

Experiences (Jobs, Internships, etc.)
- Dates hired
- Brief description of job
- Reference/contact info of each employment (Name, email, phone number)
- Demonstrate your involvement in other agricultural opportunities (volunteering, internships, community involvement, passions, culture, etc.)

Education
- Name of School
- Degree you are pursuing
- Start date
- GPA while in the program

Awards
- Any educational, community, employment, extracurricular awards/activities
Community/Tribal activities and involvement (like applicable presentations)
In-school activities and involvement (like applicable presentations)
Career goals

National Youth Advisory Council

The IAC National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC) serves as the advising body under the IAC Youth Program. NYAC will openly communicate with the Youth Program Director to ensure the needs of youth throughout Indian Country are properly met within the IAC's offered programming.

2024 NYAC applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions have been filled. Eligible applicants shall be 18-27 years of age. Open Council positions are for the following regions: Alaska, Eastern, Great Lakes, Navajo, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, Southern Plains, and Western.

Successful NYAC applicants will serve in shaping the leadership roles that this body will carry forward.

Apply by Friday, March 29th, 2024 at 11:59 PM (PST).

Visit the NYAC application portal

National Youth Advisory Counci

Summer Internships

2024 Summer Internship

Intertribal Agriculture Council (lAC), in partnership with the
Natural Resource Conservation Service, is recruiting undergraduate, junior college, and community college students or Native individuals seeking experience in Tribal agriculture and natural resources. This is an excellent opportunity for those who are passionate about promoting the regeneration of natural resources and addressing food scarcity within their communities.

Throughout the internship, students will gain an in-depth perspective and innovative understanding of how to effectively inspire conservation on the landscape, healthy eating habits, and food sovereignty. If you seek opportunities for professional development such as networking with peers and organizations or agencies, traveling, public speaking, and attending career-building workshops, this is the internship for you!

Apply by Friday, March 29th, 2024 at 11:59 PM (PST).

Apply

An IAC Internship Program Facilitator (PF) will be assigned to work with the intern throughout the duration of the summer. Interns will work with a Project Site, which may include Tribal Land Offices, Tribal environmental departments, Tribal non-profits or organizations, Tribal Conservation districts, local schools, community gardens, NRCS offices, or others TBD. Interns will work with IAC PF to design a personalized internship experience focused in but not limited to: natural resources, land management, conservation planning, regenerative agriculture, and/or traditional foods.

The IAC will pair the intern with a local NRCS office, where they will be exposed to the NRCS 9-Step Planning Process, Tribal Assistance programs, student and recent graduate programs, job shadowing/career exploration, and NRCS field days.

Confident in dedicating the time and work to this internship from start to finish.
Demonstrate interest or desire to pursue a career in agriculture, natural resources or any other ecosystem-related profession;
Are active in Native American communities/culture(s); tribal membership, descendant, and/or affiliation;
Express a passion for supporting conservation practices across Tribal ecosystems;
Completed courses in Environmental Studies, Natural Resource Conservation, Native American Studies, Agriculture, Plant Sciences, Soil Sciences, Biology, Rangeland, Forestry, etc. OR relevant extra curricular interests and experience;
Strong communication skills;
Prompt, professional, respectful, service-oriented, open-minded, self-starter.

NOTE: In the instance that travel to a job site is collaboratively decided upon between IAC PF and Intern, the Intern must have the ability to utilize personal, reliable transportation for up to 1 hour of travel each way (during regular internship weeks; regional site-based opportunities may be negotiated throughout internship based upon intern’s interest)

Is this program the right fit for you? IAC Natural Resources Interns must:

Dedicate 20-40 hours a week (ask for total hours) within a 12-14 week timeframe in May-December.
Complete weekly check-ins with an assigned IAC PF
Participate in collaborative monthly check-ins with IAC team members identified by IAC PF
Engage in a minimum of 5 hours per week of office tasks, including but not limited to:
- Check-ins with PF and/or TA
- Project relevant research
- Compiling presentation materials
- Presentations
- Assisting IAC with Tribal youth outreach
- Other natural resource-related activities

Complete timely reporting of accomplished deliverables

Over the course of an internship, the intern will:

Publish two typed reports to be made available to Tribal partners, NRCS partners, IAC Staff, and the student’s college or university (if applicable). Other forms of documentation may be considered in place of a research paper if an agreement is made between the intern, partners, and IAC program facilitator. Ask your PF for examples.
- Report 1: A 3-5 page Capstone project is focused on a culturally important natural resource topic of the interns choice.
- Report 2: A 2-3 page Culmination paper summarizing the internship experience.
Design a professional PowerPoint presentation highlighting the intern’s experience, project, and more.
- Interns will be responsible for at least one presentation during the internship and may be presented with multiple presentation opportunities to NRCS partners, Tribal partners, university classes, or IAC team members.
Interns are also responsible for taking copious pictures, and keeping an updated log of experiences to be shared with the IAC and NRCS for promotional purposes.
At the halfway point of the internship, a rough draft of the capstone project and a small reflection paper will be due to the IAC PF.

AGENDA

2023 YOUTH CONFERENCE

We are grateful for the youth in attendance at the 2023 IAC Annual Conference. Hearing your voices during the General Session and seeing your participation in the 2023 Youth Essay Contest demonstrates long-term agricultural viability in Indian Country.

Together, we foster solutions for more equitable resource access and preserve cultural heritage. Let's continue paving the way to a prosperous future for Native communities.