The Tribal Climate Change Guide is part of the Pacific Northwest Tribal Climate Change Project (TCCP). The TCCP is part of the L.I.G.H.T. Foundation (LF), is an independent, Indigenous-led, conservation 501(c)(3) nonprofit established on the Colville Indian Reservation in the traditional territory of the Nespelem Tribe in present-day north central Washington State. LF supports the restoration and cultivation of native Plant and Pollinator Relatives and the culturally respectful conservation of habitats and ecosystems which are climate resilient and adaptive. For more information about LF, visit: https://thepnwlf.org/. For more information about the Tribal Climate Change Project, visit: https://tribalclimate.uoregon.edu/. If you would like to add information to this guide, please email kathy.lynn.or@gmail.com.

 

Climate Jobs, Internships, Scholarships and Fellowships

Tribal Navigator, Spokane Community College. Applications Due: May 12, 2025. Spokane Community College (SCC) seeks to hire a Tribal Navigator to provide leadership, guidance, and comprehensive student support for Tribal students within our service area. The Tribal Navigator will be a key liaison between the college, Tribal entities, and students. This position supports the personal, academic, and professional development of Tribal students through holistic services, focusing on access, retention, and completion. The Tribal Navigator will work closely with the Director of Tribal Relations to build and strengthen partnerships with the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Kalispel Tribe, Nez Perce Tribe and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. https://careers.ccs.spokane.edu/jobs/tribal-navigator-inchelium-washington-united-states

Bureau of Indian Affairs - Watercorps Program. This program is a partnership between the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Stewards Individual Placements, and multiple federal, state and tribal entities who host BIA WaterCorps Members. The WaterCorps program's mission is to provide high quality technical skills and internship opportunities to Tribal youth in the water resources field. For more information on specific positions and to apply, visit: https://stewardslegacy.org/watercorps. 

We Swim Together Scholarship Program. Eric Stensgar Memorial Scholarship. Applications Due: May 14, 2025. A $2,500 scholarship is available to empower and support our Native students on their educational journey. Let's rise together and honor our heritage through knowledge and opportunity. For more information and to apply, visit: https://thepnwlf.org/scholarships. 

Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center. 2026 Faculty Fellowship Program. Applications Due: July 15, 2025. The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is now accepting applications for our 2026 Faculty Fellowship Program, which supports research related to climate adaptation in Northwest natural and cultural resource management as well as training in the principles and practices of co-producing decision-relevant science. This is a “last-mile” program that funds activities aimed at enhancing the usability of existing research for natural resource managers. Last-mile activities take research beyond peer-reviewed publication to formats more easily accessed, interpreted and applied by resource managers. For more information, visit: https://nwcasc.uw.edu/about/funding-opportunities/applying-for-the-faculty-fellowship-program/. 

Nez Perce Tribe - Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Coordinator. CPRG Coordinator is responsible for successfully managing multi-million-dollar projects under the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG). This five-year initiative focuses on implementing ambitious climate resilience measures within tight deadlines. The Coordinator will lead strategic planning, budget management, grant administration, performance monitoring, and staff supervision. Core responsibilities include ensuring compliance with tribal, federal, and grant-specific regulations while achieving objectives tied to climate resilience, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas mitigation. For more information on how to apply, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/cprg-coordinator-at-nez-perce-tribe-4185776547/ or contact teamhr@nezperce.org.

Gardener, Land Restoration and Ag Extension positions.  Institute of American Indian Arts, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico is a unique contemporary Native American arts Tribal college. Though it has been in existence for over 60 years as a congressionally-charted and 1994 Land-Grant University which is open to all peoples. IAIA Land-Grant Programs (Ag Extension department) has an opening for a full time (grant-funded) gardener and a full-time (grant funded) Ag Extension Educator. These openings provide a unique opportunity to weave stewardship + art + science and to share and support reconnection to food systems and biodiversity conservation. For more information, visit: https://iaia.edu/about/employment/ or contact llogan@iaia.edu. 

Native American Internships in Habitat Restoration using TEK:  Elderberry Wisdom Farm Summer and Fall 2025. The Native American nonprofit, Elderberry Wisdom Farm is currently recruiting Native American and other Interns of Color who are pursuing conservation career pathways. This paid opportunity provides an opportunity for culturally tailored habitat restoration training, experiential service learning, and mentoring which integrates Traditional Ecological Knowledge into local restoration practices, including urban forestry and native plant nursery development in the mid-Willamette Valley. A $3,000 stipend will be provided for those completing the nine-week internship for a total of 200 hours of indoor classroom education and outdoor experiential service-learning activities. Trainings are held three days a week Tuesdays through Thursdays in the Summer: July 1 - August 29. A highlight of the internship is the emphasis upon Native American habitat restoration practices that integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge principles, climate adaptation practices, and mentoring. The wide range of service-learning activities will help to strengthen biodiversity and sustainability at our work sites at Elderberry Wisdom Farm’s four-acre native plant nursery and greenhouse south of Salem, OR and other mid-Willamette Valley ecosystems, including Oregon white oak woodlands and prairie, plus urban forests and working lands. For more information and to apply, you can email your resume/bio and letter of interest to accounts@elderberrywisdom.org. Our website www.elderberrywisdom.org. also has information about Elderberry Wisdom Farm activities. 

Säzän Group-Lummi Nation Clean Energy Internship Program. Säzän Group and the Lummi Nation are excited to announce the development of the Clean Energy Internship Program. This program is funded through a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy, Clean Energy Technology Deployment Grant with support from Säzän Group, and will include multiple, paid internships. Lummi Nation has hired Säzän Group as a technical engineering consultant to serve as an Owner Representative and provide project management and technical support on the DOE Grant construction projects and other sustainability projects with Lummi Nation in 2025. The interns will be hired and working directly with Säzän Group as part-time interns during the development of solar and battery storage projects, supporting feasibility analysis of solar energy projects. Interns will be able to demonstrate work experience with a multi-disciplinary engineering consulting firm on their resumes relative to having a variety of skills directly applicable to Lummi Nation’s Disaster Resilience and Energy Sovereignty goals. Contact Sean Lawrence, Säzän’s Tribal Program Manager at Slawrence@SäZäN.com for more information about how to apply for this internship.

Center for Native Peoples and the Environment - Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. The Center for Native Peoples and the Environment at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science & Forestry is recruiting students for graduate study in diverse environmental science fields, including ecology, sustainability, conservation biology, restoration, environmental engineering, and more. Thanks to support from funders, positions include tuition, stipend, and professional development for Indigenous and Native students pursuing MS, MPS, and PhD degrees.  Click here for more info, or email us at showar01@esf.edu. We also invite you to hear more from current and past students. 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - College Internships. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is trying to identify highly motivated college students who may be interested in an opportunity to gain some experience in the summer of 2025.  We anticipate trying to fill 2-4 positions.  The work the student would be doing is associated with the conservation of native fish and aquatic habitats.  As such, it would be ideal to find students seeking a degree or career in a field related to biology, conservation, or fish.  While the positions are not compensated, per se, they do come with an official certificate of recognition and, likely, a modest award.  There are also housing opportunities possible for each position.  In addition, some students may see the positions as valuable networking and resume building opportunities. For more information on how to apply, contact Timothy_Whitesel@fws.gov. 

Nez Perce Tribe Nimiipuu Energy Manager. Open Until Filled. The Nez Perce Tribe Nimiipuu Energy is recruiting for: MANAGER IV [HR-24-183] (Full-time/Lapwai). Responsible for the day-to-day management, administering programs, projects, P&L, and business operations within Nimiipuu Energy. Provides departmental, Tribal, and interagency coordination, develops departmental policy, present departmental recommendations to appropriate subcommittees, NPTEC, and Nez Perce Tribe Holding Company. Coordinates and communicates with other Program/Department Managers at the administrative level to implement Tribal and program policy and operations. Responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of departmental contracts and/or projects.  https://www.nimiipuu.energy/

The Tribal Climate Change Guide is supported through partnerships between the University of Oregon Environmental Studies Program and the North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals and the Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Tribal Program.
Questions about this Guide should be directed to kathy@uoregon.edu.

Copyright © University of Oregon. | Privacy Policy | Developed by Dev Services