Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
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Higher Education Scholarships & Internships

Creating the next generation of warriors

This page is updated monthly to keep Columbia River Treaty Tribes and our partners informed of upcoming scholarships, internships/fellowships, youth opportunities, job opportunities, and other resources in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Page updated: February 2, 2026

Feel free to share this page with students and colleagues who might be interested.

If you have an opportunity you would like to be included in this list, please email fdsk@critfc.org with the subject line “Scholarship Opportunity for CRITFC Website”

Scholarships

Scholarships

Regional School Opportunities and Resources

Idaho

University of Idaho

College of Southern Idaho

Idaho State University

Oregon

Mt Hood Community College

Oregon State University

Eastern Oregon University

Washington

University of Washington

Washington State University

Eastern Washington University

Internships and Fellowships
Youth Opportunities
Job Opportunities
Professional Development
Events and Activities

February

  • 2-6: 2026 River Restoration Symposium (Stevenson, WA)
  • 10-12: Northwest Power and Conservation Council Meeting (Portland, OR)
  • 11, 12 – Lapwai, ID Clearwater Casino – Reflecting on the Past, Co-creating Our Future 9th Annual HIPT Food Summit hosted by the Nez Perce Tribe

March

  • 5: Leave it to Beaver? Beaver-Based Considerations for Restoration Workshop (Oregon City, OR)
  • 10-11: Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board (Olympia, WA)
  • 10-12: Northwest Power and Conservation Council Meeting (Portland, OR)
  • 12: Low-Tech Approaches for Salmon Habitat Restoration Workshop (virtual)
  • 19: Washington Invasive Species Council Meeting (Olympia, WA)
  • 23: 96th Annual Conference of the Northwest Scientific Association (Olympia, WA)

April

  • 21: Fisheries and Watershed Science Symposium hosted by Yakama Nation
  • 24: Restoring Chamna hosted by the Yakama Nation For Information contact Michael-David Bushman at busmd@yakamafish-nsn.gov

May

  • 1: Columbia River Inter Tribal Fish Commission Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Round Dance

June

  • 25: Lamprey Celebration – Oregon City – For Information contact Michael-David Bushman at busmd@yakamafish-nsn.gov

Stripping eggs at Nez Perce TribeColumbia Basin tribes have a growing share of responsibility for protecting and restoring the region’s natural resources. An important reason for their success is a commitment to holistic, multi-disciplinary management.

Science, mathematics, technology, education, business and the law combine with the tribes’ traditional ecological values to make up the bedrock of sound resource management.

Conducting a stream survey.

Conducting a stream survey.

Success in this enterprise demands an educated and skilled workforce to fill specialized positions. A goal of all Columbia Basin tribes is to fill these positions with their own members.

The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission aims to foster the educational pursuits of the tribes’ student population by providing experience, research, mentoring, and opportunities to explore career options in fisheries and natural resources at all levels.

The tribes and CRITFC are helping create the next generation of warriors. By acquiring knowledge and skills, coming generations can be effective actors in protecting the resources their cultures depend on.

Below is a list of natural resources-related scholarships and internships that might be beneficial for prospective tribal college students as they prepare to become tomorrow’s warriors protecting salmon and the earth.

2015 Intern

Truman Merrifield
surveyed tribal forestlands and recorded environmental data. His project sought to learn whether logging and climate change were acting synergistically to alter habitat conditions. He works for Warm Springs Natural Resources Department and plans to major in Environmental Science at Oregon State University.
Tribe: Warm Springs
School: Central Oregon Community College (COCC)
Year: Sophomore
Major: Forestry Resources Technology
Advisors: Rebecca Franklin, COCC, and Jon Treasure, Warm Springs Tribe



2014 Intern

Brittani Bisbee

used geographic information system (GIS) data to help Nez Perce Tribal Fisheries prioritize salmon habitat. She conducted her research with Joe Oatman, fisheries’ deputy manager. Brittani plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Geographic Information Systems.
Tribe: Nez Perce
School: Lewis Clark State College
Year: Senior
Major: Natural Resources
Advisor: ↑Assoc. Professor of Natural Sciences & Mathematics Jennifer Light