Purpose
The First Alaskans Institute (FAI) 2025 Summer Internship Program (SIP) places Alaska Native, American Indian, rural community members and students into organizations around Alaska to provide leadership growth, employment experience, and exploration. The program is designed to help those who show a high level of community leadership, commitment, prepare for their careers, further or advance their education or training, and engage in other professional opportunities that strengthen their ability to help serve and advance our Alaska Native community. Throughout the program, interns will examine priorities that benefit our extended Alaska Native family that include:

• Advancing Self Determination
• Advancing Our Ways of Life
• Knowing, Living, and Loving Who We Are
• Shaping the Knowledge That Informs Alaskans
• Being Good Relatives

FAI values our partnerships across the state as we seek to ensure meaningful employment opportunities for the interns and their employers. Interns will have the option to help establish partnerships with new employers if current options are not relevant, especially where it will allow them to return to their home village or region. Since 2004, FAI has placed 391 interns in over 110 different partner organizations in 26 communities across Alaska. For a full list of previous interns and partners, visit www.FirstAlaskans.org.

Internship Details

• Paid internship with the Orientation Week hosted in a rural Alaska community if workable
• Work site placements available throughout Alaska
• Full time work schedule, 40 hours a week for 10 weeks at $20.00/hour
• Travel provided from home to work site communities (for those that successfully enter and complete the program)
• Strong Alaska Native cultural emphasis and knowledge sharing
• Mandatory leadership development sessions
• Interns are expected to secure their own housing and accommodations during program

Timeline

• Final Selection of Interns: As applications are received and filled.
• Intern placement at Employer Partner organization: June 9th - August 1st, 2025
• Mandatory Leadership Development Retreats, June 2nd - 6th & August 4th - 8th, 2025
• Mandatory Leadership Development Fridays, 1-5pm, every other Friday.

Application Requirements

• Eligibility: Priority placement is given to college juniors, seniors and recent graduates of college or vocational schools, graduate students, and/or community members whose life experience and work history showcase a commitment to serving our Native peoples but have not enrolled in higher education. At a minimum, applicants must be high school graduates or equivalent.
• Online application (if inaccessible, please contact FAI for a paper application);
• Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts may be requested);
• Resume reflecting cultural/community/leadership activities, education, employment, etc. (2 pages or less);
• Personal biography (include English name, Indigenous name (if you have one or know it), hometown you were raised in, village(s) your family is from, Tribe enrolled with, Native cultural affiliation, parents, grandparents, schools, hobbies and passions at the very least) which will be used in a press release or on social media (250 words or less);
• Reflective essay (no more than 650 words) or video/digital story (1.5 - 3 minutes) response to listed questions on application page;
• Two letters of recommendation from professional or community references;
• Copy or photo of Tribal ID Card or Certificate of Indian Blood;
• Photo which will be used in a press release or on social media about the selected cohort.

For More Information: 
Direct all questions to Jitshla Tobi Woods at Jitshla@firstalaskans.org or 907-677-1701.