Be a part of advocacy in Native Country!

Our year-round, project-based internships give students and emerging professionals the opportunity to gain real-world experience while contributing to meaningful work that supports Native Nations. Interns choose from a curated selection of projects that align with their interests, skills, and career goals, allowing them to build practical experience while making a meaningful impact.

All internships are 100% virtual and self-directed. Interns are expected to manage their time, communicate proactively, and take ownership of their work while receiving guidance and support from Association staff.

Internship projects can often be tailored to meet college or university internship, practicum, or course credit requirements.

How to Apply

We are not accepting internship applications at this time as we review and update our internship program. Please check back later for future opportunities.

Current Interns

​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."
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.”
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!”
Amelie Lock is a high school junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally from New York City, Amelie has a strong passion for theater and the arts and has performed nationally since the age of 10. She currently serves as an Ambassador for Arts Education in the state of Missouri and is interested in using advocacy and storytelling to support the work of Association on American Indian Affairs.

Amelie shared, “I am grateful for the opportunity to support Association on American Indian Affairs and its work to protect and uplift Native Nations and their citizens. Through this internship, I hope to learn how to advocate for truthful and responsible education about Native history in my school, my community, and beyond.”
Grace Cogley is descendant of the Lakota Nation and a current graduate student at Columbia University at the Climate School studying the complex interactions between policy, society, and climate change. She has gained an understanding of how to elevate Indigenous voices through her undergraduate research working with the Nansemond Nation. Her academic passions lie in centering Native voices and working to create a more equitable policy landscape for Indigenous People. Grace says, “I am deeply honored to be a part of such important work serving our Native Nations. I aim to leverage my own research skills while also building a deeper knowledge base of law and policy concerning Indigenous justice and visibility. I cannot wait to use my skills to uplift and advocate for Native Peoples.”
Madeleine Lee is a high school student from southern California with roots in Australia and Canada. Madeleine noticed the significance of Indigenous Peoples issues in these countries, which led her to dive into the field of Native studies. Her interest was further piqued following her participation in an Introduction to Native Studies course with her local college. Madeleine is heavily involved in the leadership of multiple school clubs and has had experience working as a teacher’s assistant for a variety of courses. In her spare time, she does saber fencing and jiu-jitsu and enjoys music, literature, art, and quality time with her loved ones.

Madeleine says, “I am immensely grateful for this opportunity to work with the Association on American Indian Affairs. I deeply admire the Association’s effort to support and protect Native Nations, as well as its work nurturing future generations and preserving diverse Native cultures. I am so excited to be able to contribute to such an important and meaningful cause and hope to utilize my experience in writing and education to help further the Association and its goals. I look forward to continuing to work with the Association and intend to leave a positive impact that will empower Native Peoples, their Nations, and generations to come.”
Susie Williams is a second-year J.D. Candidate at the University of Virginia School of Law. She is a Fellow in the Program in Law and Public Service, Co-Director of Career Development for the Public Interest Law Association, and President of the Virginia Animal Law Society. She is also part of the Editorial Board for the Virginia Journal of International Law. Susie first became interested in cultural heritage law while living in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where she learned about protecting and preserving Indigenous Central Asian culture. The impact of this experience inspired her to serve Native Nations and contribute to cultural preservation closer to home.

Susie says, "I am honored to have the opportunity to join the Association on American Indian Affairs as a legal and policy intern. I am excited to learn how the law can be better utilized to support Native Nations, uplift communities, and remedy past injustices."
Madi DuVarney is from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is a White Mountain Apache descendant. Madi is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. Madi is passionate about bolstering Native Nation sovereignty and promoting Indigenous stewardship. Madi seeks to build a career in environmental and federal Indian law to champion the rights of Native Nations and the land they care for.
 
Madi says, “I could not be more elated at the opportunity to intern with the Association! I hope to inform and learn reciprocally from the team and support the essential mission of the Association.”
Chiara Safina is a recent graduate from Pennsylvania State University with dual degrees in Honors International Relations and History. Her passion for human rights issues has led her to pursue a career in law to better support both local and Native Nations by becoming more involved. 
Chiara says, “I am honored to be given an opportunity to be an intern for the Association. I hope to continue learning about Native Nations and spread awareness of the issues that Native Nations face. I look forward to making an impact.”
Karen Wheeldon is a Ph.D student in Special Education with an emphasis in Vision Impairment at Texas Tech University. She brings three decades of experience in special education and has taught students who are blink or visually impaired since 2005, including students with additional disabilities and students who are deafblind. her work across classrooms has supported students with a wide range of learning needs. 
Karen says "I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Association as an intern. Through this experience, I hope to continue learning while researching topics that support Native Nations and students with disabilities. As an educator committed to lifelong learning, I value collaboration and the chance to learn alongside others. I am thankful for the support of my spouse and three children, who make this work possible."

Current Volunteers

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.”