Notes from the Chief: Internships at Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses build bright futures

Many college students headed back to school this past week, and for many Cherokee students, they’re carrying back some real-world knowledge, thanks to the Cherokee Nation. We play a vital role in growing a well-trained and talented Cherokee workforce through summer internships programs at Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses. This helps our bright and talented young people to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world setting.

Internships provide obvious benefits for students. They gain professional skills, enhance communication skills, start a professional network and analyze possible career tracks. While the internship programs are important for Cherokee youth, they are equally important to our tribal government and businesses. By offering programs for educational and personal growth, we build an empowered citizenry and a stronger tribe. To me, that is real hope for a better future.

Our interns get a comprehensive education on the Cherokee government, our businesses and Cherokee culture. We match up a student’s area of interest to their specific summer experience, whether it’s in health care, government or a business. Learning in a classroom environment is wonderful, but experiencing real workplace scenarios is priceless.

Between Cherokee Nation and CNB, almost 70 students completed a summer internship in 2014. They are all Cherokee citizens. Many of them have been able to convert to full-time employment after completing an internship. At CNB, about 25 percent of interns transition to full-time employment with the company.

Shelby LeFlore, a recent OSU strategic communications graduate from Owasso, is completing her second summer internship with CNB.

Shelby told her supervisors that her CNB internship turned out to be the best experience she could have hoped for, as she made connections and gained valuable workplace knowledge. She said learning about the different entities of the Cherokee Nation and CNB while earning real-world experience has helped her focus more closely on what she wants to do for a career. That education and exposure is something Shelby could not have received any place other than at the Cherokee Nation.

Hunter Palmer, a special assistant in Cherokee Nation Career Services, is another bright spot from our internship program. He completed a Cherokee Nation internship in 2003, and this past year he paid it forward by interviewing and selecting new summer intern applicants. Hunter said that internship experience was enlightening, and he witnessed the invaluable work done for Cherokee people. It is the primary reason he wanted to return to the Cherokee Nation and work for the tribe.

Like Hunter and Shelby, so many of our interns are young, dynamic, future Cherokee leaders. We must continue cultivating young people to assume leadership positions in the future by providing them the right mentors who’ve traveled a similar path and will help light the way as they try to make their professional dreams a reality.

Putting new tools to use outside of a traditional classroom setting and delivering real-world skills to Cherokee youth mean we have succeeded. Through these highly successful internships, we are cultivating a sense of Cherokee pride and hope.

For more information on how you can apply next summer, contact the Cherokee Nation Career Services office at 918-453-5555 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. CNB’s Employee Services Department can be reached at 918.384.7474 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thank you to all our summer interns for your service, and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Cherokee Nation after graduation.

Wado,

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker