CIRI’s programs resource guide provides an overview of programs from CIRI, its Designated Tribal Organizations and Community Nonprofits. These programs are intended to connect and support the social, cultural, and economic well-being of CIRI Shareholders and Descendants and Alaska Natives.
Career Development
Program
Age/Grade
Available
Virtual Mentorship Program
- This program provides mentorship in several areas and cultivates a reciprocal relationship between mentor and mentee.
- Open to participants aged 18+. Mentees must be CIRI Shareholders and Descendants.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Applications accepted year-round; program is six months starting in the Fall.
Color of Justice
- The Color of Justice is a two-day program for youth in high school who are interested in careers in the justice field.
- Open to Alaska Native/American Indian youth.
Healthcare Job Training
- Training in a wide range of healthcare-related jobs for eligible low-income individuals seeking a career as a professional in the healthcare industry.
- Open to low-income, Alaska Native/American Indians.
- Contact: [email protected] or 907-793-3300
Native Law Clerkship and Fellowship Programs
- Gives law students and recent law school graduates hands-on experience working in the field of Native law—and helping to create a cohort of Native legal professionals who can serve their communities across the country.
- Open to law school students and recent graduates.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
Short-term Observation and Clinical Opportunities
- To support individuals interested in pursuing professions within the health care industry, SCF provides limited opportunities for students to follow medical providers, physician assistants. Clinical opportunities are available for learners (students, residents, and externs) to work and learn in medical services (primary care, pediatrics, integrated care teams), behavioral health (including psychiatric residencies), tribal and community-based services, and dental.
- Open to students interested in healthcare professions.
Cultural Connections
Program
Age/Grade
Available
CIRI Participation Committee
- CIRI’s Participation Committee (CPC) provides an opportunity to enhance participant knowledge of and strengthen ties with CIRI; network with fellow Shareholders and Descendants, CIRI staff and Board Directors; and provide participant voice and perspective to CIRI.
- Open to CIRI Shareholders and Descendants 18+
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Two-year term with application deadline in June
Next Gen Day
- Next Gen Day focuses on making connections through hands-on cultural activities. It allows Shareholders and Descendants to learn about CIRI and get involved.
- Open to CIRI Shareholders and Descendants aged 10-17
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Takes place on MLK Day in January
Illakucaraq
- Participants will build confidence in their cultural identities while forming a supportive community with other Alaska Native youth from around the state. Key program components include personal reflections, positive self-and cultural identity formation, cross-cultural experiences, peer-to-peer learning and discussions, elder and culture bearer teachings, and art and storytelling.
- Open to Alaska Native students in grades 8-11 living in Alaska.
- First cohort begins June 2023
NYO Games Alaska
- The Native Youth Olympics (NYO) influences young people to improve academic performance, strengthen overall health and well-being, and instills important values, including leadership, and cross-cultural awareness and respect.
- Open to Alaska Native/American Indian in grades 1-12.
- Takes place during the spring.
Techno-Culture Camps
- Throughout various camps, typically a week in duration, students spend time in the Fab Lab learning design software and work on individual and group projects and participate in outdoor activities and field trips. Culturally relevant activities include making kuspuks, learning traditional drumming and dance, kayak building, NYO practice, and salmon fishing.
- Open to Alaska Native/American Indian Students living in Anchorage.
- Available throughout the summer.
- Contact: [email protected] or 907-793-3265
Tiamuna
- Through Tiamuna, which means “Future” in Iñupiaq, students can enhance their cultural enrichment and educational opportunities with their families.
- Open to Alaska Native/American Indian K-12 students living in the Anchorage area.
- Available year-round, first come first served.
- Contact: Veronica Boerger at 907-330-8066
Educational Resources
Program
Age/Grade
Available
Cook Inlet Native Head Start
- Cook Inlet Native Head Start uses curriculum that focuses on Alaska Native values and cultural enrichment to build experiences, skills, and attitudes that prepare each child for kindergarten.
- Open to Alaska residents aged 3-5 years with documented proof of Indian blood.
Denełchin Lab
- State-of-the-art creative space is a place for students to use high-tech design programs, industrial-grade manufacturing machines, and programming tools to transform ideas into reality. Lab students have access to laser cutters, 3-D printers, robotic routers, electronic circuitry, and more.
- Open to Alaska Native/American youth.
- Available year-round.
Education Resources Handbook
- Handbook provides information from selecting a school to finding an internship, as well as hundreds of scholarship opportunities across disciplines.
Schoolyard Afterschool Program
- Afterschool enrichment program that meets daily during the school year offering tutoring, mentoring, STEM skills-building opportunities, culturally relevant activities, and more.
- Open to Alaska Native/American Indian students in grades 7-12 (ages 12-19) enrolled in Anchorage School District.
UAF eCampus Partnership
- Offers Alaska resident rate to all students and 10% discount on tuition to all CIRI Shareholders and Descendants.
Internship Opportunities
Program
Age/Grade
Available
Internship Program
- CIRI’s summer internship program is intended to increase Shareholder and Descendant relevance and deepen engagement with the next generation entering the workforce.
- Open to CIRI Shareholders and Descendants aged 18+, enrolled or recently graduated from 2- or 4-year degree or vocational program.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
Alaska’s People Internship Partner Program
- Paid internship opportunities for Alaskan Native American Indian students enrolled full or part-time or who have recently graduated from an undergraduate or graduate degree program or technical school in a related degree field.
- Open to Alaska Native/American Indian college students or recent grads in an undergraduate, graduate, or technical program.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Contact: [email protected] or 907-793-3467
Cultural Tourism Summer Internship
- This program provides meaningful employment to Alaska Native youth while connecting them to their cultural heritage. Interns earn opportunities to learn from Master Artists, participate in subsistence activities, and gain valuable communication and public speaking skills as tour guide leads.
- Open to Alaska Native high school students living in Alaska.
Internship and Fellowship Opportunities
- SCF sponsors a 11-month Nuka Improvement Internship and Nuka Improvement Fellowship within Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka System of Care which utilizes a relationship-based, customer-owned approach to transforming health care. This opportunity internship or fellowship provides an opportunity to participate in the redesign of systems and processes to improve the health outcomes, customer experiences and cost effectiveness of Southcentral Foundation.
- Open to college graduates interested in pursuing a medical career.
Internship Program
- The Internship Program aims to partner with employers to assist eligible applicants with supervised on-the-job training that will provide practical work experience consistent with career preparation.
- Open to CIRI Shareholders and Descendants (including those eligible for Raven Fund Awards) seeking a degree or recently graduated.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
Raise Program
- The Raise Program is an internship that introduces Alaska Native and American Indian interns to potential health care, administrative, and related careers, offer support in achieving educational goals, and provide meaningful worksite experiences.
- There are three internship sessions each year: summer and winter sessions for those enrolled in high school, and a year-long program for high school graduates enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program.
- Open to ages 14-19.
- Interships take place in Anchorage.
Youth Services Program
- Internships at Anchorage work sites, supportive services for low-income individuals.
- Open to low-income, Alaska Native/American Indian, Anchorage residents aged 14-24 years.
- Internship opportunities are offered through the youth services program.
Job Opportunities
Program
Age/Grade
Available
Job Openings
- Explore job openings with Cook Inlet Region, Inc. Don’t forget to scroll down on the CIRI jobs page for Subsidiary and CIRI Partner job openings.
Alaska Native Hire
- This site allows individuals to create a profile highlighting specific experience, skills, education, and employment history, while employers have the ability to search the database for the specific skills to fill vacant positions.
- Open to Alaska Natives in the workforce.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
Alaska’s People
- A full-service career and employment center with access to computers, fax and scan services, online development training, career assessment, job search assistance, and employment services.
- Open to Alaska Natives in the workforce.
Scholarships and Grants
Program
Age/Grade
Available
CITC Scholarship Programs
- The CIRI Foundation (TCF) is partnering with Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) to administer CITC’s Tribal Higher Education Scholarship Program. This program includes the Tribal Higher Education Scholarship and the Alyeska Match Scholarship.
- Open to voting, CIRI Shareholder or lineal descendants od a voting shareholder.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Deadlines are June 1 and December 1
Fellowship Grant Programs
- These programs include Cultural Heritage and General Fellowships to encourage the arts and those attending career relevant workshops and seminars.
- Open to CIRI original enrollee or direct lineal descendant artists, students, and professionals.
- Deadlines are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 1
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
General and Competitive Scholarships
- TCF offers a range of scholarships and endowed fund awards to degree seeking students.
- Open to original CIRI enrollees or direct lineal descendants enrolled full or part-time in a 2- or 4-year degree or graduate program.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Deadline for Fall term is June 1.
Jump Start Awards
- Award intended for students enrolled in college or training program classes while in high school.
- Open to direct lineal descendants of a CIRI original enrollee currently enrolled in high school and post-secondary educational/training program.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Deadlines are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 1 (paper application).
Kick Start and Restart Scholarship
- Scholarships offered to CIRI S/D who don’t meet general and competitive scholarship requirements.
- Open to original CIRI enrollees or direct lineal descendants enrolled full or part-time in their first term of a degree or graduate program.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Deadlines are June 1 and December 1
Raven Fund Awards and Grants
- The Raven Fund offers general scholarships and vocational training grants to qualified applicants.
- Open to CIRI, Alaska Native, voting Shareholders who are NOT original enrollees or direct lineal descendants.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Deadlines are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 1
Scholarship Opportunities
- SCF is developing scholarship opportunities for Alaska Native and American Indian people who are interested in the following opportunities: CMA, Nursing, Behavioral Health, and Dental
- Open to Alaska Native/American Indian students interested in healthcare.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Application period open October – November.
Village Scholarships and Grants
- TCF administers the following village scholarship and grant programs and is proud to support their members, descendants and original enrollees.
- Original enrollee or direct lineal descendants of Eklutna, Inc., Ninilchik Native Association, Inc., or Salamatof Native Association, Inc. enrolled in one of the following degree programs: undergraduate, graduate, or vocational training. certificate-seeking program.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
Vocational Training Grant Program
- The CIRI Foundation (TCF) offers vocational training grants to applicants enrolled in technical skill training programs earning a certificate/certification or professional license.
- Open to CIRI original enrollees or direct lineal descendants enrolled in a technical skill training program earning a certificate/certification or a professional license.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
- Deadlines are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 1
Volunteer Opportunities
Program
Age/Grade
Available
NYO Volunteering Opportunities
- Hosting NYO is a team effort, made possible by hundreds of volunteers who donate their time and talent to prepare for and carry out the Games. Learn more about exciting ways to support our youth today.
- To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Stephanie Hubers at [email protected].
Volunteer Opportunities
- CIHA is often looking for volunteers to assist in food box deliveries, the mobile food pantry, resident libraries, decorating for the holidays, and special events.
- Open to all.
Volunteer Program
- Offers volunteer opportunities in primary care, elders’ program, Family Wellness Warriors, Pathway Home, Dena a Coy, and health ed. Opportunities are also available at the Alaska Native Medical Center.
Learn more about other Shareholder and Descendant resources and benefits.
