Purpose: This guide contains an overview of programs from CIRI and its constellations of tribally designated organizations and 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
- 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.
Learn more: Virtual Mentorship 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.
Learn more: Internship Program
- 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.
Learn more: Cultural Tourism Summer Internship
- 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.
Learn more: Internship Program
- 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.
Learn more: Short-term observation and clinical 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.
Learn more: Internship and fellowship opportunities
- Internships at Anchorage work sites, supportive services, and one year of follow-up service.
- Open to low-income, Alaska Native/American Indian Anchorage residents aged 14-24 years.
Learn more: WIOA Youth Program
- Aids with resume writing, interviewing, and job opportunities.
- Open to Alaska Native/American Indian Anchorage residents aged 14-24 years.
Learn more: Youth Career Connections
- This program helps youth gain work experience and develop skills for succeeding in future careers through a 10 to 12-week paid internship with CITC or a partnering organization.
- Open to participants aged 14-24 years.
- Open to Lower 48 participants.
Learn more: Youth Paid Internships
- 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.
Learn more: Youth Employment Program
- 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.
Learn more: Alaska Native Hire
- 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.
Learn more: Healthcare Job Training
- 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.
Learn more: Alaska’s People Career Center
- 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.
Learn more: Internship Partner Program
- 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.
Learn more: Color of Justice
- 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.
Learn more: Native Law Clerkship and Fellowship programs
Cultural Development
- 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
Learn more: Next Gen Day
- 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
Learn more: CIRI Participation Committee
- 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
Learn more: Illakucaraq
- 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.
Learn more: Tiamuna
- Offers school break cultural enrichment camps, focuses on project-based STEM learning and Fab Lab activities, literacy support and reading interventions, Alaska Native language acquisition, and literacy skills.
- Open to Alaska Native/American Indian students K-5.
- Available during summer and winter school breaks.
Learn more: Cultural Connections
- 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.
Learn more: Techno-Culture Camps
- 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.
Learn more: NYO Games Alaska
Educational Resources
- 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.
Learn more: General and Competitive Scholarships
- 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
Learn more: Kick Start and Restart Scholarship
- 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).
Learn more: Jump Start Awards
- 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
Learn more: Raven Fund Awards and Grants
- 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
Learn more: Vocational Training Grant Program
- 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.
Learn more: Fellowship Grant Programs
- 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.
Learn more: Village Scholarships and Grants
- 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
Learn more: CITC Scholarship Programs
- 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.
Learn more: Scholarship Opportunities
- 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.
Learn more: Cook Inlet Native Head Start
- 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.
Learn more: FAB Lab
- 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.
Learn more: Schoolyard Afterschool Program
Volunteer Opportunities
- 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: Volunteer Program
- 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.
