Welcome Fall. I love this time of year, especially on the Indiana University Bloomington campus! I hope everyone has settled into their class schedule and finding that delicate balance of rest and recreation. This week I had the most fortunate opportunity to meet with Bradley Russell, Program Specialist for the Pathways Program with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. He shared with me, at length, the details of the Internship Program and encouraged me to share this magnificent opportunity to all Native American/Indigenous students at IU. He emphasized the preferential consideration given to Native Americans of registered federal tribal affiliation, and shared that, with new leadership, the Program is seeking to extend its offerings to consider members of state recognized tribes as well. And, so, without further adieu, I want to share what I learned about this amazing internship possibility!

SPRING AND SUMMER 2024 INTERNSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOW

The BIA Pathways Internship Program connects Native American and Alaska Native students to paid internships with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal Nations across the United States. In the next 5 years, 30% of the federal workforce will be eligible for retirement. Position vacancies within the Bureau of Indian Affairs and across the US Government in general are INCREASING. They need YOU and they are willing to pay and train you in your area of interest. Not only will is this a PAID internship designed to engage and train you, but other benefits of the program include:

• Sick leave and time off (for fulltime placements)
• Tuition Assistance and Student Loan Repayment
• Pre-approved overtime
• Temporary Duty Travel costs
• Conference and Training Registration fees
• Laptops and Office Equipment
• And the most significant PERK OF ALL

THE OPPORTUNITY TO AUTOMATICALLY CONVERT TO A PERMANENT JOB

What is your area of interest?

The are many job opportunities in Indian Country. Some of the hiring needs include:

• Rangeland Management
• Real Estate Services
• Wildland Fire Management
• Natural Resource Management
• Soil Conservation
• Environmental Protection
• Administrative Support – Human Resources
• Business – Management
• Self-Determination

Where would you work?

Interns can work with BIA offices, Tribes, tribally affiliated enterprises, and other federal agencies.

YOU MUST HAVE:

• BIA FORM 4432
• USAJOBS Account
• USAJOBS Resume
• Unofficial Transcript
• Cover Letter (optional but encouraged)

Where do I go to get help applying?

• The O’Neill School Career Hub
• The Indiana University First Nations Educational and Cultural Center
• The Pathways Program Office, email OTSPathways@bia.org