Be a part of advocacy in Native Country!
Our internships are year-round and project-based, allowing interns to choose from a curated list of meaningful projects that align with their interests and goals. Internships are 100% virtual and self-directed, meaning you must take the lead in managing your own work, time, and learning. They can be crafted to meet school or college requirements.
|
How to ApplyTo apply, please submit all three required items below to [email protected]:
1. Cover letter including the following:
2. Resumé 3. Writing Sample |
|
Current Interns
|
Lila Bigalow is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and is a current high school sophomore in Los Angeles. She writes for her school newspaper, runs on the track team, and is a member of DECA.
Lila says, "I am extremely excited and appreciative to have the opportunity of interning at the Association on American Indian Affairs. With this position, I hope to build upon my skills and interests, while uplifting a community that I appreciate and want to connect and learn more about. Through this position, I plan to show my dedication to the association and community, as well as hopefully leading to a new understanding.” |
|
Claire Lavarreda is a World History Ph.D. student at Northeastern University, focusing on Indigenous history, archives, memory, and material culture. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2021, where she majored in History and Social Sciences and minored in Spanish. Her mixed heritage inspires her work, encouraging a blend of approaches, perspectives, and cultures.
Claire says, "I am so excited to join the Association as an intern. The work being done to support youth, repatriation, and cultural preservation is very important, and I'm delighted to be able to contribute to this work. When you're in academia all the time, it can be easy to lose sight of the necessary and present-day work happening around you. As someone in the history field, I am especially interested in NAGPRA and repatriation in general and can't wait to intern with the Association on American Indian Affairs." |
|
Kailash Muthukumar is a current high school junior at Alpharetta High School in Georgia. Kailash competes in Policy Debate, plays soccer, does economics research while interning under professors, and is involved in the Future Business Leaders of America, among other interests.
Kailash says, "I am glad to intern at the Association on American Indian Affairs. I hope to bring about positive change for Native Nations while acquiring a broader perspective on Indigenous rights and policies to build on my diverse skill set to further help empower Native Peoples’ socioeconomic and geopolitical standing. I am eager to learn more about Native regional economies as well as the interaction between culture and sovereignty during my time as an intern." |
|
Antonio Santana is a citizen of the Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmucs from the Nipmuc Nation and currently works as an EMT and a Research Associate in the Neurobiology Department at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts—Amherst in 2024 with a dual bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Psychology. With his background in science and Native heritage, he hopes to blend traditional healing practices with modern medicine as an aspiring physician.
Antonio says, “I am honored and excited to intern with the Association on American Indian Affairs and deepen my understanding of Native Country as a whole. As an aspiring physician and healer, it’s easy to become so focused on academics that you lose sight of the real health concerns affecting your Nation. This is why I am excited to raise awareness and learn about the impact of intergenerational trauma and healing, a phenomenon that continues to shape the health and well-being of Native Peoples across generations.” |
|
Veda Ramachandran is a junior at American High School in Fremont, California. She participates in Choir and Musical Theatre, and enjoys making art, thrifting, and listening to music.
Veda says, “I’m honored to be working with the Association on American Indian Affairs and deeply value the opportunity to learn more about Indigenous Nations. I hope to pursue a career rooted in advocacy and justice for Indigenous Peoples. Through this internship, I hope to deepen my understanding of the political and social challenges that Indigenous Peoples face and explore meaningful ways to create lasting change.” |
|
Riley Ehlert is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and a current high school junior in Los Angeles. Riley plays varsity basketball, runs on the track team, and is involved in a local Indigenous Youth Council in addition to other clubs. In her free time she enjoys reading, beading, and listening to music.
Riley says, “I am honored to have the opportunity to be an intern at the Association on American Indian Affairs and extremely excited to gain a better understanding of the contemporary issues facing Native Peoples. Through this internship, my goal is to advocate for the protection of Native Nations by spreading awareness to others. I hope to deepen my personal cultural connection by educating myself on Native sovereignty.” |
|
Jewel Olson is a citizen of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, and a recent graduate of Dickinson State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. In the summer of 2024, she conducted research on cardiomyopathy through the Native American Research Internship at the University of Utah, where she conducted research on DNA affects the heart in certain heart conditions. Jewel is passionate about advancing Native health equity and increasing Native representation in medicine.
Jewel says, "I’m deeply honored to be part of the Association on American Indian Affairs. Through my work and research, I hope to give back to my community and help pave the way for future Native students in medicine.” |
|
Kwani-Fawn Marcellay is a citizen of the Colville Confederated Tribes (Okanagan/Entiat bands) in eastern Washington state. She graduated from Reed College with a B.A. in Anthropology, where she wrote her legal thesis about criminal jurisdiction in sexual assault reporting on her reservation. Kwani is most dedicated to protecting Native Nation justice systems, maintaining Native Nation sovereignty, and serving Native Country.
Kwani says, "I’m honored to join the Association as a Legal and Policy Intern. I’m excited to apply my understanding of the federal legislative process and contribute meaningful research that supports all Native Nations. I look forward to deepening my knowledge of the Association's important work and continuing to serve my People." |
|
Victoria Baker is a citizen of the Gila River Indian Community, and an administrative professional with over five years of experience, currently pursuing a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing at New York University. Victoria’s experience includes a variety of roles such as a Marketing Intern for the Gila River Indian Community and an Administrative Support Specialist for the Maricopa County Community College District. Additionally, she has served as a Student Senator Chair, where she worked to ensure student voices were heard.
Victoria says, "I am honored to contribute my skills in administrative support, marketing, and strategic planning to serve Native Nations. I am eager to apply my experience in a new setting, particularly within higher education, to support the community and further develop my understanding of policies that empower Native Peoples." |
|
McKenzie Honish is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and a current senior working towards her undergraduate degree in psychology at Brigham Young University. She currently works as a research assistant studying the relationship between personality and close relationships.
“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to participate in research with the Association on American Indian Affairs. Through my work, I hope to more deeply connect with my personal culture and develop my research skills. I intend to increase my understanding of intergenerational trauma and intergenerational healing, and to advocate for lasting change. I am deeply honored to be involved with the Association and the incredible work they are doing.” |
|
Mikaela Brown is a recent graduate of Montclair State University, where they earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. They have worked with state-recognized Tribes in New Jersey and with the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians. Their academic and professional interests focus on policy issues impacting Native Peoples, with a strong commitment to cultural preservation and repatriation work. Mikaela says, “I’m honored and excited to be interning with the Association on American Indian Affairs. I hope to support ongoing repatriation efforts and contribute to policy work that uplifts and protects Native Nations. This opportunity means a great deal to me as I continue learning, building connections, and deepening my commitment to advocacy and community-led research.”
|
|
Morghan Vélez Young, Ph.D., works in the areas of legal anthropology, cultural heritage, repatriation/rematriation of Ancestral remains, and nonprofit organizations, finding opportunities for change and the deliberate amplification of diverse voices, Indigenous lenses, and community-driven solutions. Her varied publications and projects reflect a through-line of dedication to antiracism and decolonizing, especially in terms of legal system harm towards Indigenous and Latinx communities. Her family is Choctaw, Cherokee, and Mexican-American and this informs her dedication to community transformation through teaching and research. She was born and raised on Yokuts Land. Her training stems from Fresno State University with a B.A. in anthropology, Montana State University-Bozeman with a graduate certificate in Native American Studies, and Stanford University with a Ph.D. in anthropology of education.
|
|
Kaylee May is a proud ally and currently residing in Chromo, Colorado, working with and training a herd of horses. She has been traveling out West for several years now in pursuit of living remotely, in harmony with the land, and developing her horsemanship skills.
Kaylee says, “As I’ve grown into my early years of adulthood, I have noticed a lack of education and acknowledgment of the Native Nations who were the caretakers of this land before us. This alone has evoked so much emotion in me. I want to bring light to America’s true history and fight for Indigenous Peoples’ sacred rights. My hope with this opportunity with the Association is to delve deeper into my understanding of Native Nations and support the values important to them. I am honored to be embarking in this movement towards awareness and preservation of diverse Native cultures!” |
Current Volunteers
|
Ruth Nasrullah is a retired independent journalist and communications specialist based in Houston. Since leaving full-time work, she has devoted her time to a variety of volunteer activities. She is a Texas Master Naturalist and volunteers at Armand Bayou Nature Center in Pasadena, Texas. Ruth also volunteers with the Red Cross, specializing in shelter management, and has served as a board member of the Houston chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for many years. She and her husband created COVID-19 Wall of Memories, a virtual memorial to people who died of COVID-19, and she oversees the site's blog and social media campaigns. She is a former board member of Green Muslims, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting Muslims to nature and environmental activism. Her interest in Native causes reflects her general concern for marginalized, underserved and misunderstood groups in today's United States, and in particular is connected to her belief that as the descendant of European immigrants, she owes a debt to this continent's original inhabitants. Ruth is from New Jersey and is married with an adult daughter and two adult stepsons.
|
|
Shado Rose LaCount-VanEyck is a Native photographer, storyteller, and creative rooted in her identity as a proud citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. Through her lens, she captures more than images—she preserves spirit, tradition, and lived experiences. Her work weaves together themes of resilience, cultural pride, and human connection, using portrait photography as a modern vessel for Ancestral storytelling. With over two decades of experience behind the camera and a deep respect for Native wisdom and lifeways, Shado brings heart, authenticity, and vision to every shoot. Each photo session is approached with intentionality—creating space for her subjects to be seen, honored, and remembered. Now, she’s honored to partner with an organization that shares her commitment to cultural preservation and education.
“I’m incredibly excited to team up with an organization like the Association who is equally passionate about protecting, preserving and celebrating our culture. Being able to use my photography to tell our stories, amplify indigenous voices, and grow together in community is a true honor.” |
