Empowering Native Leaders. Building Stronger Community.

Indigenous Leadership Pathways (ILP)

ILP is creating pathways for Native American Fellows to lead in critical fields, starting with healthcare. Together, we’re addressing the challenges our communities face by growing our own future leaders.

Investing in the Future of Indian Country

Native American communities face a significant challenge: a shortage of professionals in critical fields like healthcare, education, finance, and more. The Indigenous Leadership Pathways (ILP) initiative is our solution to grow Indigenous leaders who can address these gaps while creating economic and personal opportunities for themselves and their communities.

Our inaugural focus is healthcare—because taking care of our people is the foundation of a thriving community. By empowering Native American students with scholarships, mentorship, and career opportunities, ILP ensures that future generations have the resources to succeed and give back.

Healthcare Is Where It Starts

The shortage of Native healthcare professionals in Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities is a pressing issue. Many communities lack access to quality care, and housing shortages make it challenging to recruit and retain non-Native professionals. But who better to care for our people than our own community members?

The inaugural ILP Healthcare Fellows initiative focuses on training and supporting Native Fellows in healthcare careers by:

  • Scholarships: $2,000 annually for four years to reduce the financial burden of education.

  • Mentorship: Monthly guidance from experienced healthcare professionals.

  • Speaker Series: Quarterly panels featuring Indigenous leaders in healthcare.

This program not only empowers individual students but also builds community wealth and resilience by investing in our future caregivers.

A Scalable Program for Long-Term Impact

The ILP Initiative is designed to grow beyond healthcare, addressing other critical needs in Native communities. Future cohorts will focus on:

  • Finance: Empowering students to create economic resilience and build generational wealth in Indian Country.

  • Education: Supporting aspiring teachers to inspire and lead the next generation of Native American students.

By applying the same proven model—scholarships, mentorship, and speaker series—these cohorts will provide students with the tools to succeed in their fields while uplifting their communities.

Transforming Lives, Strengthening Communities

ILP is more than a scholarship initiative. It’s a movement to empower Native Fellows, build community resilience, and address workforce shortages in Indian Country. By investing in Indigenous talent, we’re creating sustainable, long-term solutions that strengthen our communities from within.

“AIRO’s mentorship and support have helped me feel more confident in my path, and the resources they provide make pursuing my goals so much easier. Knowing there’s a community cheering me on makes all the difference.”
— Kaylee Narlock, ILP Healthcare Fellow

How You Can Help

Join the Movement

Person in winter clothing talking on a phone outside a brick building with snow on the ground.

Your support is vital to the success and growth of ILP. Together, we can provide Native American students with the tools they need to succeed and lead.

Here’s how you can make a difference:

  • Donate: Fund scholarships and mentorship for ILP Fellows.

  • Mentor: Guide Fellows as they grow into leaders.

  • Partner: Collaborate to expand ILP into new fields.

FAQ

  • The Indigenous Leadership Pathways (ILP) is an initiative dedicated to empowering Native American Fellows and communities through education, mentorship, funding, and opportunity.

  • ILP provides Fellows with access to mentorship, resources for career readiness, and a network of partners committed to their success.

  • ILP Healthcare Fellows is open to Native American high school seniors in North Dakota preparing for college. In the future, we aim to include South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana.

  • You can support ILP’s mission by volunteering as a mentor, partnering with us to provide resources, or donating to help expand our programs. Your involvement directly impacts Native American students in North Dakota and helps create pathways to opportunity.

  • ILP is rooted in serving the Native American communities of North Dakota, where the need for educational access and support is significant. By focusing on college preparation for graduating seniors in high school, we address a critical moment in their lives, providing the tools and guidance they need to succeed in higher education and beyond.