The Purpose
As the Chickasaw Nation faces the challenge of balancing tribal sovereignty with maintaining a collaborative relationship with the federal government, it is crucial that future, young Chickasaw leaders are trained and encouraged to build relationships with policymakers throughout Indian Country and the United States Capitol. The Chickasaw Nation internship program provides opportunities for student ambassadors to build bridges, one relationship at a time, in an effort to address numerous issues facing the unconquered and unconquerable Chickasaw Nation. The program is designed to train young leaders to identify problems and implement lasting solutions through collaborative working relationships with government and business leaders.

Our Mission
The mission of the internship program is to work in partnership with government and business leaders across the country to provide an exclusive educational opportunity to the leading students of the Chickasaw Nation.  The program is a tool to have a direct impact on the future of the tribe by nominating and supporting a participant who will return home with the experience to be a leader in the Chickasaw Nation.

Program Benefits
The Chickasaw Nation will provide:

• 6-8 week internship opportunity
• a weekly stipend
• one round trip ticket to the location of their intern site
• housing accommodations

Program Components
The internship program is conducted at different times throughout the year in locations determined by the Chickasaw Nation. Once an intern has been selected, staff will work with the student and employer to determine exact dates.

Intern sites include, but are not limited to:

• Governmental Offices: Indian Health Service, Environmental Protection Agency, State Offices, etc.
• Congressional or Senate Offices
• Native American Organizations
• Native Owned or Operated Businesses

"Internship programs, such as the Chickasaw Nation's, are excellent tools for molding our tribal nation's youth into successful, unconquered and unconquerable citizens that they are destined to become."
Jennifer Barnes, Environmental Protection Agency intern 2004.

Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must:

• Complete an intern application and submit all documentation to the Chickasaw Nation Internship Program .
• If selected, sign an agreement to participate in the program.
• Be between the ages of 18--25.
• Be a full-time student enrolled as a sophomore, junior, senior or be in graduate school.

Click on the following for additional internship opportunities:

• Native American Political Leadership Program
  • Click to view the Native American Political Leadership Flyer
• Native Scholarship to Study Coastal Climate Change
• Environmental Health Internships
• Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program
• Association of American Indian Physicians 13th Annual Patty Iron Cloud National Native American Youth Initiative
• United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service Internship
• email Kathie for more information Kathie.Klass@wdc.usda.gov.