For 45 years, CIRI has developed business ventures across Alaska and beyond, with the well-being of our current and future shareholders at the center of every decision. CIRI supports its shareholders and their descendants with employment resources, Alaska Native artist opportunities and a variety of youth programs.
“Shareholder and descendant programs serve an essential purpose in helping CIRI fulfill its mission,” said Darla Graham, CIRI shareholder and manager of shareholder programs at CIRI. “With programs aimed at creating opportunities for shareholders and descendants and getting them more involved in CIRI activities, we deepen shareholder engagement and nurture and support the next generation.”
Listed below are a few of the programs and resources currently offered by CIRI, as well as a new youth opportunity, the CIRI C3 Experience, coming this summer.
Alaska Native Hire
CIRI created AlaskaNativeHire.com to help its shareholders, descendants and other Alaska Native people find jobs. Job seekers can search for and apply for suitable jobs, and Alaska businesses can search job seeker profiles to locate available talent.
An enhanced version of the site was unveiled in October 2017 and offers the following features:
- Job seekers are invited to create a profile highlighting their experience, skills, education and employment history. This information converts to a customized resume that can be downloaded by both the job seeker and employers. Open jobs can be browsed by location, company, job title and category. AlaskaNativeHire.com will also notify job seekers of open positions for which they qualify. Cost to job seekers is always free.
- Employers can post open positions across web and mobile platforms, search candidates by skill set, location and experience, and create targeted advertisements to attract talent.
CIRI C3 Experience
With the goal of fostering leadership skills and helping prepare young shareholders and descendants for college and careers, the CIRI C3 Experience is a camp like no other – a three-day, two-night retreat where participants will hear from Alaska Native professionals, engage in collaborative exercises to hone their skills to successfully apply for college, draft the perfect essay, learn about internship opportunities at Alaska Native organizations and create a professional resume.
The CIRI C3 Experience also engages the participants in Alaska Native culture. From Elder storytellers to Alaska Native games and dances, the camp celebrates the rich cultures and diversity of Alaska’s Native people.
The camp is open to CIRI shareholders and confirmed descendants ages 15 to 19. The deadline to apply is March 15, with the camp scheduled for Aug. 13-15. All transportation (including airfare, if required), housing and meal costs will be covered by CIRI.
Job and Resource Fair
With the opportunity to connect with CIRI, its affiliated entities, other Alaska Native corporations and private employers in the Cook Inlet region, CIRI’s annual Job and Resource Fair provides shareholders and confirmed descendants the chance to learn about potential employment and training opportunities. Attendees are given access to computers where they can work on and print their resumes, with Cook Inlet Tribal Council representatives on hand to answer questions and offer resume advice. A clothing drive is held in conjunction with the fair, with a variety of gently-used professional attire and accessories for attendees to choose from for interviews.
The 2018 Job and Resource Fair will be held this spring. Details will be made available in future issues of the Raven’s Circle and via CIRI’s social media channels.
Summer Internship Program
A program that creates opportunities for students and recent graduates to directly apply their education in a practical work setting, CIRI’s summer internship program allows shareholders and descendants to gain insight into CIRI’s culture and businesses. Since the program began in 2015, CIRI has placed 17 interns – five of whom are still employed with CIRI and subsidiary companies.
Applications are accepted year-round and are due no later than the second Friday of May for the current-year program. To be eligible for consideration, students must be a CIRI shareholder or a registered descendant with a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and either: 1) recently graduated from a four-year degree program; 2) enrolled in a four-year degree program with at least junior standing; or 3) enrolled in or recently graduated from a relevant vocational program.
In 2018, if CIRI cannot find an opportunity for an approved applicant, we will work to place him/her in a position outside of CIRI while still encouraging his/her participation in CIRI’s program enrichment activities, including cultural education, volunteer programs and mentoring activities. For interns coming from outside of Anchorage, a small stipend may be offered to help offset travel and housing expenses.
Take the Next Generation to Work Day
Dedicated to helping young shareholders and descendants explore future career paths, Take the Next Generation to Work Day encourages youth ages 10 through high school to reach their full potential by providing an opportunity to learn about CIRI and experience what’s involved in and required for jobs they may be interested in. Each January, participants spend a day at the Fireweed Business Center, CIRI’s corporate headquarters in Anchorage, where they hear from CIRI executives and spend time with an employee sponsor to learn about areas of the company that align with their interests. To round out the experience, participants engage in hands-on cultural activities. Applications are accepted year-round and due on the first Friday in January for the current-year program.
Youth Representatives
Based on discussions with the Shareholder Participation Committee (SPC) members, CIRI added three youth representatives to the SPC committees. Youth representatives have the opportunity to meet directors, executive and management staff from CIRI and CIRI-affiliated nonprofit organizations, and to hear about CIRI initiatives and business developments and the many programs and services offered by the CIRI nonprofits. In turn, the addition of youth representatives allows CIRI to learn more about what is important to the next generation of CIRI shareholders.
Youth who are interested in serving as an SPC youth representative must either be a CIRI shareholder or confirmed, registered descendant, 13 to 17 years of age, and must submit (a) an application, (b) a letter of introduction, (c) a reference letter and (d) a short essay explaining why they want to serve as a youth representative and what they know about CIRI and their Alaska Native heritage. Application packets are accepted year-round, and must be received no later than the second Wednesday of August to receive consideration for the current-year program.
For more information about these and other programs and resources, visit ciri.com/shareholders.
