American Indian Programs  

Programs for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

CHEROKEE YOUTH CENTER BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
The purpose of the Boys & Girls Clubs is to promote the social, educational, health, leadership, and character development of boys and girls during critical periods of their growth. The club provides a safe place to learn and grow and provides life-enhancing programs and character development experiences.
(828) 497-3119

CHEROKEE CHALLENGE
Cherokee Challenge has replicated NIYLP’s Venture Program with some modifications to address the needs of students in Cherokee, NC. The Cherokee Challenge program has a sixth grade program, a peer leader program for ages 14-18, an experiential learning challenge program, and a youth leadership camp.
challenge@smnet.net
(828) 497-7291

JUNALUSKA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The program teaches communication and leadership skills to youth through exposure to tribal government processes.
(828) 497-7470

CHEROKEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S SACRED PATH PROGRAM
The goal of the program is to build a classroom community, resolve conflict and build character through Cherokee culture.
(828) 497-9130

SMOKEY MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOLS INDIAN UNITY COUNCIL
The Council assists youth development through information about American Indian culture delivered by guest speakers and students.
(828) 586-2177

HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CASINO MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Harrah’s training and professional staff delivers a curriculum consisting of career enhancement, manager excellence and manager preparation offerings.
(828) 497-8886

CHEROKEE CHOICES MENTOR PROGRAM
The mentoring program is a youth development program for fourth through sixth graders designed to enhance coping skills to improve health.
(828) 497-1970

 

Programs for Youth

AISES
The American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES) is a national, nonprofit organization, which nurtures building of community by bridging science and technology with traditional Native values. Through its educational programs, AISES provides opportunities for American Indians and Alaska Natives to pursue studies in science, engineering, and technology arenas.
info@aises.org
http://www.aises.org
(505) 765-1052

NCAI YOUTH COMMISSION
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Youth Commission is designed for students who have an interest in political science, tribal government and Native American legislative and governmental affairs.
http://www.ncai.org
(602) 795-6202

UNITED NATIONAL INDIAN TRIBAL YOUTH (UNITY)
UNITY is a national leadership organization with 211 youth councils operating in 34 states and Canada. UNITY's mission is to foster the spiritual, mental, physical and social development of Native youth and to help build a strong, unified and self-reliant Native America through involvement of its youth.
http://www.unityinc.org
(405) 236-2800

WINGS OF AMERICA
Wings uses running as a catalyst to empower American Indian and Alaskan Native youth to take pride in themselves and their cultural identity, leading to increased self esteem, health and wellness, leadership and hope, balance and harmony.
WingsAmer@aol.com
http://world.std.com/~mkjg/Wings.html
(505) 982-6761

RUNNING STRONG FOR AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH
The mission of Running Strong for American Indian Youth® is to help American Indian people meet their immediate survival needs – food, water and shelter – while implementing and supporting programs designed to create opportunities for self-sufficiency and self-esteem, particularly for tribal youth.
http://www.indianyouth.org
(703) 317-9881

THE LIFESKILLS CENTER FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP
Throughout the program, many experiential exercises and processes are used to help youth identify self-defeating beliefs or negative attitudes that keep them from achieving their ultimate potential. In the processes, youth will also identify self-empowering and positive attitudes that will inspire them in all areas of their lives.
http://www.lifeskills-center.org
(612) 871-3883

THE NATIONAL INDIAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROJECT
The program’s purpose is to engage Native youth in challenging activities and meaningful experiences in the community and the natural world preparing them for healthy lives as capable, contributing members of their family, community, tribe, and nation.
http://www.niylp.org
(505) 722-9176

NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH INITIATIVE
The National Native American Youth Initiative (NNAYI) program is a one-week Health,
Biomedical Research, and Policy Development program
http://www.aaip.com/student/nnayi.html
aaip@aaip.com
(405) 946-7072

THE GINEW/GOLDEN EAGLES YOUTH PROGRAM
The mission of the Ginew/Golden Eagles Program is to help American Indian youth strengthen and develop skills which will give them the knowledge to make life choices and help them live healthy lifestyles.
http://www.maicnet.org/GoldenEagles/index.html
goldeneagles@mtn.org
(612) 879-1723

POTAWATOMI LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
The Potawatomi Leadership Program (PLP) is a summer internship for college-qualified tribal youth who are entering into their senior year of high school or their freshman year of college. The PLP was designed to address the need to develop tribal leadership for the future and to develop within the membership at large a more accurate perception of the tribe and its operations.
http://www.potawatomi.org/Culture/Potawatomi+Leadership+Program/default.aspx
(405) 275-3121

CHEROKEE NATION TRIBAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
The goal of the Youth Leadership Intern Program is to provide participants an opportunity to become familiar with the Cherokee Nation Tribal government and administrative functions.
CareerServices@cherokee.org
http://www.cherokee.org/Servies?CareerServicesPage.asp?ID=42
(918) 456-0671

WABANAKI PROGRAM
The Wabanaki Program is committed to the development of leadership, fostering high self esteem, and instilling a positive cultural identity among Native youth to assist them in realizing their rightful place in their communities and in the world.
wabanki@ptc-me.net
http://www.afsc.org/newengland/wabankis.htm
(207) 853-2317

AKIMEL O’ODHAM/PEE-POSH YOUTH COUNCIL
The youth council is focused on empowering and training future leaders.
Greg.mendoza@gric.nsn.us
(520) 562-6136

Programs for College Students

AMERICAN INDIAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AT PENN STATE
The program’s goals are: 1) to develop individual leadership that will be able to support intellectual development, create positive change, function in complex environments, and help to define and shape the future of American Indians and Alaska Natives and their communities; 2) to provide education for the development of qualified leaders, planners, and administrators for tribal or public schools serving Indian children, and other organizations, colleges, institutions or government agencies concerned with the education of Indian people; 3) to provide high-level training for managers qualified to develop and administer specialized programs in education that would better serve the unique needs of exceptional Indian children; and 4) to provide training in educational research and evaluation in Indian education with an emphasis on community development and policy analysis.
AILP@psu.edu
http://www.ed.psu.edu/ailp/
(814) 865-1487

AMERICAN INDIAN BUSINESS LEADERS PROGRAM
The American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL) is a student-based organization designed to support and promote the American Indian business student and entrepreneur.
http://www2.umt.edu/trio/aibl/old%20files/hpaibl.htm
(406) 243-4879

SOCIETY FOR ADVANCEMENT OF CHICANOS AND NATIVE AMERICANS IN SCIENCE
The mission of SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) is to encourage Chicano/Latino and Native American students to pursue graduate education and obtain the advanced degrees necessary for research careers and science teaching professions at all levels.
info@sacnas.org
(831) 459-0170
www.sacnas.org

NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (NAES) COLLEGE
NAES College was established in Chicago in l974 to strengthen the leadership of Native communities and to ensure that tribal knowledge, traditions and values play a major role in the higher education of Native students. NAES College is the only independent, American Indian owned and controlled college in the country.
http://www.naes.edu

AMERICAN INDIAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (DOCTORAL TRAINING TO ADMINISTER SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS)
This project provides training at the doctoral level for five American Indian/Alaskan Native students over a four-year period. The project meets the need for preparing administrators with the necessary knowledge and skills to be effective leaders for all students, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse populations identified.
jwt7@psu.edu
http://www.cec.sped.org/osep/database/detailView.html?masterID=725
(814) 863-1626

Programs for Tribal Managers

SPIRIT OF EAGLES
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have very high incidence rates for specific cancer sites and poor survival rates for most cancers. This AI/AN Leadership Initiative on Cancer addresses comprehensive tribal cancer control through partnerships with The Network for Cancer Control Research among AI/AN populations, tribes, multiple cancer centers, Cancer Information Services (CIS), and the American Cancer Society (ACS).
http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/cancercenter/native.cfm

SAGINAW CHIPPEWA TRIBAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
The Tribal Leadership Program is intended to create opportunities for tribal members to acquire the necessary education, experience and skills to perform in positions of leadership and responsibility.
http://www.sagchip.org/education/higher-ed/hied-leadership-pgm.htm
(989) 775-4505

AIHEC LEADERSHIP FELLOWS PROGRAM
The AIHEC Leadership Fellows Program is designed to increase the number of American
Indian senior-level leaders at Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
aihec@aihec.org
http://www.aihec.org
(703) 838-0400

BUFFETT AWARD FOR INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP
The Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership is an important resource for supporting tribal leaders within the lands and waters of Salmon Nation. The award recognizes tribal leaders for their drive as catalysts for better conditions in their communities.
liz@ecotrust.org

CHEROKEE NATION HISTORY COURSE
The Cherokee Nation History Course seeks to promote critical thinking skills, self-reliance, and a strengthened sense of cultural and national identity.
jcoates@cherokee.org
www.cherokee.org
(918) 456-0671 ext. 2389

TRIBAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
As designed by Montana state law, the Local Government Center’s mission is to strengthen the capacities of Montana's local governmental units to deliver essential services efficiently and to provide training, technical assistance, and research to local officials.
janejelinski@montana.edu
http://www.montana.edu/wwwlgc/index.shtml
(406) 994-6694

Programs for Elected Tribal Officials

INSTITUTE FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
The Institute provides services to elected tribal governments across the US and to others, including local, state and federal government agencies, who want to learn about tribal governments. The goal of the Institute is to assist interested tribes to cultivate the necessary expertise and governance skills from within their own tribe.
tribalgov@pdx.edu
http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu
(503) 725-9000

SOUTHWEST LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT (UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA)
The Southwest Leadership Program for Local and State Government provides public policy, management, and leadership training designed especially for elected officials, managers and department heads of local, state and tribal governments.
http://executive.eller.arizona.edu/southwestleadership/
(520) 621-2045

Programs for Community Leaders

AMERICAN INDIAN AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
The Ambassadors Program is the only leadership initiative in the United States encouraging participants to weave their respective traditional tribal values into a contemporary reality. The Ambassadors Program provides a creative combination of mentorship, personal reflection, dialogue with national decision-makers, community involvement, communications training, and a discovery process into tribal values.
http://www.aio.org/ambass.html
(505) 867-0278

KELLOGG LEADERSHIP FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE
The Kellogg Leadership for Community Change program seeks to capitalize on a variety of social, economic, cultural and experiential criteria during the process of defining and identifying leaders. The Foundation’s goal is to strengthen communities by helping individuals who are already engaged in community stewardship to recognize themselves and others as leaders, and then develop the shared leadership expertise that allows them to work across a range of backgrounds and perspectives.
info@klccleadership.org
http://www.klccleadership.org
(269) 968-1611

SEVENTH GENERATION FUND
The Seventh Generation Fund is a Native American intermediary foundation and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting and maintaining the uniqueness of Native Peoples and their nations.
of7gen@pacbell.net
http://www.7genfund.org/
(707) 825-7640

NATIVE NATIONS INSTITUTE
NNI's mission is to assist in the building of capable Native nations that can effectively pursue and ultimately realize their own political, economic, and community development objectives. This national building effort is the central focus of NNI's programs.
nni@u.arizona.edu
http://www.nni.arizona.edu
(520) 626-0NNI

HORIZONS PROGRAM: INDIAN RESERVATION-BASED COMMUNITIES
The purpose of the Horizons project is reduction in poverty (in the areas including financial, traditional values, physical, spiritual, mental, relationships, social system, and role models) in small rural communities confronting economic decline and demographic change.
horizons@nwaf.org
http://www.nwaf.org/Programs.aspx?pg=Programs/Horizons.htm
(877) 852-4293

CHEROKEE NATION LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM (in development)
The purpose of the Leadership Curriculum is to develop a leadership pipeline for the Cherokee Nation that begins with pre-school and continues through college and adult education.
http://www.cherokee.org/
(918) 456-0671 ext. 2645

Other Programs

LAWRENCE LIVERMORE’S AMERICAN INDIAN PROGRAM
Lawrence Livermore's American Indian Program provides national leadership, identifies resources, facilitates collaborations, and launches technological initiatives in support of the Department of Energy's mission to support its American Indian Policy.
http://www.llnl.gov/aadp.divers.aip.html
(929) 422-9543

UNITED TRIBAL EMPLOYEES’ COUNCIL
The United Tribal Employees' Council members serve as role models, mentors, advisors and act as liaisons between the Maricopa Community Colleges and the Native American communities.
lynette.jim@smcmail.maricopa.edu
http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/employeeresourceguide/37.html
(602) 243-8314

HONORING NATIONS
At the heart of Honoring Nations is the principle that tribes themselves hold the key to positive social, political, cultural, and economic prosperity – and that self-governance plays a crucial role in building and sustaining strong, healthy Indian nations.
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/hpaied/hn_main.htm
(617) 495-1480 or (617) 496-9446

AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE: NATIVE AMERICAN/NATIVE PEOPLES PROGRAM
AFSC's Native American/Native Peoples (NAAP) Program addresses a range of issues that challenge the continuing survival of Native communities in the United States and beyond. The program supports the renewal and strengthening of Native traditions, institutions, communities, and identities; defends Indian treaty rights, lands, sovereignty, religious freedom, and citizenship; builds youth leadership; seeks to build alliances in support of Native rights; and affirms the international rights and standing of indigenous peoples.
http://www.afsc.org/community/native-american-affairs.htm
(215) 241-7131

FIRST NATIONS OWEESTA CORPORATION
First Nations Development Institute helps Indigenous peoples control and develop their assets and, through that control, build the capacity to direct their economic futures in ways that fit their cultures.
(605) 455-1700

TOHONO O’ODHAM COMMUNITY ACTION
As an independent grass roots organization, TOCA strives to create effective culturally based responses to the problems that confront our community.
toca@tocaonline.org
http://www.tocaonline.org
(520) 383-4966