IAC & NRCS INTERNSHIP

Former undergraduate intern Delaney

Schroeder-Echavarria met with the Intertribal Agriculture Council in April 2023 at their Pacific Nursery Tour at Shingle Springs Rancheria, it was here that Delaney met IAC Pacific Region Technical Assistance Specialist Natalie Solares who encourage her to apply for the Native Youth Summer Internship Throughout Summer 2023, Delaney worked with IAC Youth Program Director Elaini Vargas, IAC Youth Programs

Administrative Specialist Sunshine Tso, NRCS Tribal Conservation Planner Erin Taylor, and Food Sovereignty Lab Coordinator Marlene' Dusek on a multi-collaborative internship that encompassed many different aspects to Tribal Food Sovereignty. This included engaging with Wiyot Community Members through the Wiyot Food Boxes Program, becoming a project member for the Food for Indigenous Futures: Food Sovereignty Youth Council, attending multiple site visits with our local NRCS Team to Klamath and Blue Lake, connecting with Native youth from across Turtle Island at the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiatives: Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Summit in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and attending the IAC Pacific Region Summit in September at Pechanga Resort and the IAC Conference in Las Vegas this December.

Delaney is grateful for the many opportunities these various people, Tribes and organizations have given her throughout this past year She hopes to continue working with the Lab throughout graduate school and plans to focus her graduate work on Tribal food sovereignty, Indigenous science, and Justice-oriented food systems.