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

Pacific Crest Trail Association Field Project Specialist. Open until filled. The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) is looking for someone with outdoor leadership experience in training and supervising trail crews to join our team as a Field Project Specialist. These full-time, seasonal positions vary in length as well as season start and end date. Positions are open until filled with interviews scheduled for the week of 1/27 and 2/3. Please see the regional addendums, full job announcement and job description on our hiring page for more specific information for each of the regions currently hiring: 1 in Southern Sierra, 2 in Northern Sierra, and 1 in North Cascades https://www.pcta.org/about-us/jobs/
 
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Water and Tribes Initiative (WTI) are pleased to announce that we are hiring for a Tribal Leadership Programs Director. Applications Reviewed on a Rolling Basis. The Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network (IWLN) is a leadership program of the WTI. It was launched in 2021 and is a core component of WTI’s portfolio to enhance Tribal capacity to manage water and engage in water policy discussion in the Colorado River Basin. NWF launched the Colorado River Indigenous Youth Advisory Council (CRIYAC) in 2024 as a mentorship and leadership program for youth and young adults (ages 18-25) who desire to protect the Colorado River and serve young adults in their journeys towards connecting, learning about, and being a voice for the Colorado River and their Tribal communities. https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers. To apply, click here.

Multi-media Outreach Project RFP - The Estimated Unmet Need of Coastal Tribes in the Lower 48 States Facing Relocation Due to Climate Impacts. Proposal reviews will start immediately. RFP will remain open until filled. The BIA Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals are seeking videographer(s), animator(s), and/or graphic designer(s) to produce a series of 3-5 minute videos, infographics, and 2-3 minute animations to accompany a report, The Estimated Unmet Need of Coastal Tribes in the Lower 48 States Facing Relocation Due to Climate Impacts. The purpose of these outreach materials is to enhance the awareness and understanding by Congress and broader audiences about the challenges faced by coastal Tribes in the lower 48 states as they address climate-related relocation and protection-in-place issues. We encourage potential contractors to apply to complete either part or all of the project deliverables. See details of the RFP at this link. 

Program Manager; Bristol Bay Climate Adaptation Planning Program. BBNA’s Natural Resources Department is adding this position to manage the Bristol Bay Climate Adaptation Planning Program. The Climate Adaptation Planning (CAP) Program Manager will lead the Bristol Bay Climate Adaptation Planning Program, managing activities related to climate adaptation planning, community engagement, and collaboration with various stakeholders.  https://bbna.com/job/program-manager-bristol-bay-climate-adaptation-planning-program/

Swinomish Fisheries Biologist. Applications Due: January 19, 2025. Swinomish Fisheries is excited to announce that we are looking for an individual to fill a new, full-time, lead scientist position. The Quantitative Fisheries Biologist will report directly to Tandy Wilbur, the Fisheries Manager for the Tribe, but the individual will work very closely with our Shellfish Team. See this https://www.swinomish-nsn.gov/publications to get an idea of the work we do. Full job description and Swinomish application can be found here:
 https://www.swinomish-nsn.gov/human-resources/job-opening/fisheries-quantitative-fisheries-biologist 

USFS Native American Research Assistantship Program. Applications Due: January 20, 2025. The Native American Research Assistantship (NARA) Program offers an opportunity for Native undergraduate or graduate students to gain experience during a paid 3-month summer research project with USDA Forest Service Research and Development (USFS R&D) scientists.  https://wildlife.org/native-american-research-assistantship-program/

Summer research experience related to Earth Sciences and Indigenous Knowledges. Applications Due: January 21, 2025. The National Science Foundation (NSF) Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program is an undergraduate-to-graduate program created to broaden participation in earth sciences with multiple summer research opportunities, mentoring by expert scientists, engineers, and science professionals; and a supportive learning community. There is no requirement for prior experience with research or programming / coding. The summer research experience includes opportunities to engage in original scientific research, written reports and presentations, seminars, as well as peer and community mentoring. Additionally, NSF SOARS includes year-round support, funding to attend conferences, and an engaged network. Successful Protégés are eligible to participate in the program for up to four (4) years. Some students continue their summer research as part of capstone or senior thesis projects back at their universities or colleges. This year, several students out of the cohort will have the opportunity to work on projects related to Rising Voices, Changing Coasts (https://www.rvcchub.org/), an NSF-funded project led by Haskell Indian Nations University that brings together Indigenous knowledge-holders and university-trained scientists to improve our understanding of the impacts of climate change (e.g., storms, sea-level rise, heat, fires, floods, ecosystem change) on communities in four coastal regions (Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska). On the NSF SOARS application form, applicants interested in these projects can select “Indigenous Ways of Knowing” as one of their Research Interests. For more information and to apply, visit: https://soars.ucar.edu/apply. 

Bureau of Indian Affairs - Plant Ecologist. Applications Due: January 31, 2025. The Bureau of Indian Affairs' Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience (TCR) is excited to announce a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) to coordinate with a Plant Ecologist on Tribal coastal restoration. The Plant Ecologist position will be funded by TCR through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Ecosystem Restoration Program to assess the botanical/native seed and plant materials needs, and to provide technical support for Tribes who are relocating, retreating, expanding, or utilizing protect-in-place measures to address climate-induced erosion and similar impacts. Please reach out to Alyssa Morris (alyssa.morris@bia.gov) and John Mosley (john.mosley@bia.gov) for a position description and for any questions and to submit Statements of Interest.

Dean, College of Indigenous Studies (CIS), University of Alaska Fairbanks. Priority will be given to applications received by January 31, 2025. The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is thrilled to announce a unique and transformative opportunity for an accomplished and visionary leader to become the inaugural Dean of the newly established College of Indigenous Studies (CIS). https://bbna.com/job/program-manager-bristol-bay-climate-adaptation-planning-program/
 
2025 Conservation Connect Fellowship Program. Applications Due: February 2, 2025. The National Forest Foundation (NFF) invites graduate students pursuing a master's or doctoral degree to apply to the 2025 Conservation Connect Fellowship Program. Conservation Connect fellowships aim to build experience, knowledge, and skills within the next generation of collaborative and conservation leaders to support each other and advance the field. We are striving to build a cohort of emerging leaders, connecting graduate students who will go on to do important work with communities and public lands in the future. https://www.nationalforests.org/collaboration-resources/fellows

NSF CoPe Rising Voices Changing Coasts Summer Internship. Priority Deadline: February 16, 2025. Recruiting Native graduate and undergraduate students to address climate impacts in Alaska, Hawai’i, Puerto Rico and Louisiana. Learn about the role of research in supporting Indigenous communities’ adaptive response to climate change. Meet Indigenous and non-Indigenous climate scientists and learn about their work in coastal communities. Develop your professional network and find future professional development opportunities. Located for 4 weeks at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS and 1 week onsite.  This form is for year 2025 of the Rising Voices Changing Coasts internships at Haskell Indian Nations University. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfariY-J0VyvMSf2bpWNX0To-uQOr0pNGkfbgXhlRPoz5VzMg/viewform

2025 Bailey Research Fellowship. Applications accepted through February 16, 2025. Rocky Mountain National Park and Rocky Mountain Conservancy are currently accepting applications for the 2025 Bailey Research Fellowship. The Bailey Research Fellowship provides opportunities for highly qualified graduate students to conduct research in the park and communicate their work to the public. The fellowship provides park housing, a living stipend, and support for research supplies and conference attendance. The goal of the fellowship is to support graduate student research that aids in park management and decision-making. For more information, visit: Bailey Research Fellowship: https://www.nps.gov/rlc/continentaldivide/rocky-mountain-conservancy-bailey-research-fellowship.htm
 
NOAA Coastal Resilience Fellowship Program. Applications Due: February 28, 2025. Established in 2024, this fellowship provides a unique, two-year opportunity for early-career professionals to gain hands-on experience. Successful applicants will support Climate Resilience Regional Challenge grant recipients as they implement projects that build climate resilience within coastal communities. Each project includes a focus on serving marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented communities. Project descriptions for each of the 33 fellowship opportunities are posted here. For more information and to apply, visit: https://coast.noaa.gov/funding/ira/resilience-challenge/fellowship.html. 

FEMA National Youth Preparedness Council. Applications Due: March 3, 2025.  FEMA is accepting applications for the Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) until March 3. YPC is a program that brings teens together from across the nation who are interested and engaged in community preparedness. Council members are selected based on their dedication to public service, their efforts in making a difference in their communities and their potential to expand their impact as national leaders for emergency preparedness. For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/individuals-communities/youth-preparedness-council

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. 

Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority's (UMRWA) Tribal Liaison. UMRWA is seeking a Tribal Liaison to establish and foster beneficial relationships with Tribes having an interest in forest stewardship activities in the Upper Mokelumne River watershed. This position will serve as UMRWA’s main point of contact with the Tribes within the region to promote and facilitate Tribal input on forest planning and project implementation activities within the Eldorado and Stanislaus National Forests. The successful candidate will be one who demonstrates the ability to establish and maintain constructive relationships with multiple Tribal communities and the capacity to assist Tribal representatives to engage and communicate their interests in forest-related initiatives. For more information please review the Tribal Liaison Position Description: https://www.umrwa.org/tribal-liaison-needed

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.

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