NLI Leadership Training: National 2025

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Overview

In June, Advance Native Political Leadership (Advance) will host our second national in-person Native Leadership Institute (NLI) training program. The NLI training program is designed specifically for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian leaders who aspire to run for public office in the next 1-3 years in the United States. It’s an unprecedented opportunity to equip yourself with the skills, knowledge, and support needed to make a real impact in U.S. politics while leading with our shared Indigenous values.

Details

📅 Dates: June 24-29, 2025

📍 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

💼 What’s in store: Over the course of four days, we’ll delve into a comprehensive curriculum that covers campaign strategy, understanding sovereignty, liberation, decolonization, finding your why, and most importantly, leading with our shared Indigenous values. We believe that by honoring and centering our ancestral knowledge, respect for community, environmental stewardship, and collaboration, we can bring about positive change for our communities and create a political landscape that truly reflects who we are as Indigenous peoples.

And the best part? We are committed to making this program accessible to our community. Advance Native Political Leadership Action Fund is offering this program at no charge to participants. If you are accepted into the program, travel, accommodations, and food will all be provided.

APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED.

Interview & Selection Process

We want to make sure that our program is a good fit and that we are in alignment on our values as we work on leadership development together. Our interview and selection process is designed to provide an opportunity for us to get to know each other and to have a more in-depth conversation about the program and your experience, goals, and future plans.

Submit Your Application – The first step is to complete the application form.
Interview Invitations – After reviewing applications, we will invite selected applicants to a 45-minute Zoom interview.
Final Selection – Following interviews, we will review each candidate’s full application and make final decisions about program admissions.
Acceptance & Next Steps – If you are accepted, you’ll receive detailed information about the program, including participation logistics and any pre-work leading up to the session.

Please note:

We are unable to accept current elected officials or individuals who have already filed to run for office.
Participation and completion of the application process does not guarantee admission into the program. Applicants are selected based on eligibility, alignment with program values, and demonstrated readiness.

Application Deadline

We encourage you to apply by the priority deadline listed below to increase your chances of securing an interview, as spots are limited and fill quickly. Priority applicants will be given scheduling preference, though interviews are not guaranteed. The interview end date marks the last opportunity for consideration for this class.

Priority Deadline: April 15, 2025
Interviews End: May 5, 2025

Questions?

Please refer to the FAQs below. If your question isn’t answered below, don’t hesitate to contact us at nli@advancenativepl.org.

FAQs

Who is this training for?

This training program is designed for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian leaders who aspire to run for public office in the United States, who have a demonstrated connection to their communities and a commitment to uplifting tribal sovereignty and building Native power. Priority will be given to those seeking office within the next 1 to 3 years.

How do I apply?

The first step is to fill out the application form. After reviewing applications, we will invite selected applicants to a 45-minute Zoom interview. This conversation will help us learn more about you, understand what you hope to gain from the program, and answer any questions you may have about the Native Leadership Institute.

Is there a cost to participate?

No, there is no cost to attend our training. Travel, food, and accommodations will be provided. We are offering this program free of charge to our community. In return, we ask that you commit to being on-time, present, and participatory for the entire program.

What is the time commitment?

When accepted to the Native Leadership Institute, you will be required to fully participate in a 4-day intensive, in-person training program. There will also be required pre-work in advance of the training. Altogether, there will be just over 20 hours of required training time and 3 to 5 hours of preparation to get the most out of this program.

What if I can only attend for part of the time?

We ask that you only accept your offer to attend if you can join us for the full time. If something changes in your schedule after you’ve accepted and you can no longer commit to the full program, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to someone on our waiting list.

Can I participate if I'm a current elected official?

The answer to this question depends on your elected office, however, given ethics laws restricting “gifts” it is unlikely that you’ll be able to participate in this program. We do, however, encourage you to reach out as we’d love to connect with you and tell you more about our Native Elected Leaders Network program. You can reach us at nli@advancenativepl.org.

Can I participate if I'm a current candidate running for office?

No, you cannot participate in this program if you’ve already declared candidacy given campaign finance laws. However, please reach out once your election is over, as we’d love to support you as either a newly elected official in our Native Elected Leaders Network or as a participant in future NLI programs and training classes! You can contact us at nli@advancenativepl.org.

What technology will I need to participate in the program?

You will need a laptop to fully participate in this program. If you are accepted into the program and you do not have a laptop, we will work with you to make sure you have what you need to be able to join us.