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Thanks to a Program Builders grant from Career Connect Washington, a powerful partnership is taking shape between the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, local school districts, Wenatchee Valley College, and North Central ESD. At the heart of this collaboration is a new series of dual-credit natural resources courses designed to prepare students for in-demand careers while deepening their connection to land, culture, and community.

Led by Kamea Pino (pu-rai-kah), Curriculum Developer for the Colville Tribes Education Division, the program introduces high school students to forest management, ecology, and career opportunities within the Tribe’s own Natural Resources Division. The first course, Natural Resources 108, is currently being piloted at Omak High School and Inchelium High School, with additional districts expressing interest for the upcoming school year. A second course, Natural Resources 160, has been developed and is scheduled to be piloted next year.

Each unit emphasizes hands-on learning and deep connection to traditional ecological knowledge. For example, in the Forest Management unit, students explore traditional and modern practices, while the Land Ownership unit partners with the Inchelium Youth Council and Lake Roosevelt students to examine historical policies and aboriginal territories. Students also learn about tribal sovereignty, career pathways, and the importance of self-determination in tribal governance.

The course provides ready-to-use materials for educators and students, including lesson plans, student workbooks, and PowerPoints. Upon completion of the full pathway, students can earn up to 15 transferable college credits and a certificate.

In this exciting course, you’ll dive into the fascinating world of the Colville Reservation and discover how its landscape has been shaped over time. We’ll explore the geography of the area, including how plate tectonics, glaciation, and volcanic activity have created the landforms you see today. You’ll also learn about the different vegetation zones on the reservation and what factors influence where plants grow. We’ll look at how historical events and modern climate change have impacted the environment. Plus, you’ll understand the important role the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation play in managing and protecting the land. By combining science with cultural insights, this course will help you appreciate how natural processes and human actions together shape the world around us.

The natural resources pathway was developed to address the workforce needs of the Colville Tribes. The Tribes generate over 3,300 jobs, serving as a vital support for the community by providing local employment. In 2023, Pino and her team surveyed the Tribe’s Natural Resources Division, which employs 366 individuals. They discovered that 122 positions are expected to become available in the next one to ten years, with 34% of these vacancies anticipated due to retirements.

These findings underscore a clear need to invest in developing the next generation of natural resource professionals — not only to fill roles, but to ensure future caretakers of the land are deeply rooted in the culture and knowledge systems of the Tribes.

“Our hope is that we get students interested early enough so they’ll consider these careers and be ready to step into those roles,” Pino shared.

Students who complete Natural Resources 108 and 160, and are tribally enrolled members, are eligible to apply for a six-week summer youth apprenticeship. This hands-on experience provides at least 250 hours of real-world learning alongside professionals from the Tribe’s Natural Resources Division. Student apprentices also work toward three industry-recognized certifications and develop résumés and portfolios to support future employment or education.

“This gives tribal students not only an opportunity to learn about natural resources and future careers, but also a chance to learn about who they are,” said Pino. “The college credits are just a plus to what we have to offer to them.”

By aligning education directly with workforce needs and grounding it in identity, culture, and land stewardship, the program supports students’ futures and strengthens the Tribe’s capacity to manage and protect its natural resources.

The Program Builders grant has played a vital role in making this program possible. Funding has supported curriculum development, instructional materials such as GIS-enabled iPads, books, and teacher professional development. It has also made it possible to compensate tribal subject-matter experts who contributed their time and knowledge to develop culturally specific content.

Tami McBride, who has supported the project as a Career Connected Learning Specialist at NCESD, emphasized how powerful it has been to watch the work grow. 

“Seeing an idea evolve into something that empowers students and communities is the most rewarding part of my role,” McBride said.

Looking ahead, additional school districts have expressed interest in adopting the program. Colville Tribal youth development staff, along with NCESD, are prepared to support the expansion and share resources with more schools.

“This project wouldn’t be possible without support from NCESD,” said Pino. “They helped us navigate every step of the grant process, from budgeting to deadlines and answering questions. It’s been an amazing partnership.”

These courses represent more than career exploration. They are a reflection of cultural empowerment, sustainable stewardship, and the strength of collaboration between schools, state partners, and tribal communities.

“To be able to create this project and give it back to our people, it not only benefits our community and our students’ well-being, but it also builds stronger relationships with our schools, our state, and each other,” Pino shared.

By creating a program that is rooted in both workforce relevance and cultural identity, the Colville Tribes are not only preparing students for future opportunities but also modeling what’s possible when education is shaped by community and guided by purpose.