ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS You Must be:

Enrolled Tribal Member in either a Federal or State recognized tribe with documentation. This includes Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives. Services are available to those tribes & bands terminated since 1940 including individuals with a CIB card.  You are also eligible as a descendant in the first or second degree.  

• Unemployed (or underemployed based on wage qualifications, have you received a lay off notice? Bring this with you!) 

• Obtained a High School diploma or GED

• Aged 17+

• Living in RI, CT, NY, NJ, MA or DE 

• Registered with Selective Service  (males 18+) 

 

What Documentation is Needed? - please bring these documents with you

• Tribal Identification- you, a parent or grandparent must be documented in a recognized tribe. (Tribal ID) Please bring your tribal document with you. 

• Two forms of  ID (including Picture ID) ( Drivers License, State ID, Birth Certificate, Student ID, )

• Social Security Card

• Selective Service Registration form (males over 18)

• 3 weeks of current paystubs (if currently employed) 

• Current Resume 

Students Seeking Tuition Support? - new or returning participants will also need the following documentation:  

• ​Last semester's/or most recent grades/transcripts (or proof of graduation) 

• Updated resume with work experience/internships/certifications/credentials

• Current itemized invoice from the college including other financial support applied

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**Students should be prepared to have a clear understanding of their career path or be willing to work with their case manager to create one. Tuition support is provided for participants to become skilled and employable. Tuition support will be made to assist each participant to our fullest capacity but is not a full-payment scholarship. Our program does not pay fees, debt, loans or non-training costs associated with post secondary education. Returning participants must be in good financial standing with the college and our organization from  your last program enrollment. Rhode Island Indian Council (RIIC) and it's affiliate offices will review all case files when re-enrolling repeat clients. 

Graduate degrees are considered on a case-by-base basis review. 

         

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Success Story: 

"My dream of a career in genetic counseling is becoming a reality, thanks to the support and generosity of the Rhode Island Indian Council. From a young age I was driven to pursue a career in which I could make a profound impact on individuals, families, and communities. However, funding a college education remains a constant struggle. Through the council’s College Assistance program I was able to achieve the first milestone in my career path, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree specializing in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Genetics from Boston University in 2017. Two years later, the council is granting me yet another opportunity to continue my educational pursuits as I prepare for the inaugural Genetic Counseling Class of 2021 at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. I am excited to begin this journey with the resolve to improve treatment and prevention strategies for all through the promise of precision medicine, and I’d like to thank the Rhode Island Indian Council for making it all possible. I am honored to be a part of a community working so hard to empower their fellow natives."

-Sheyenne (Narragansett Indian Tribe) 

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