By Ethan Thomas, Communications Department Summer Intern
(The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is proud to provide employment opportunities for high school and college students through the Department of Education’s Summer Youth and Career Internship Employment Program. To help report on this initiative, we are proud to share the following summer student spotlight, which reports on internships in areas specific to the student’s chosen career path.)
With the Education Division’s Summer Youth and Career Internship Program completed and college students beginning to return to campus, we are proud to continue recognizing Akwesasne youth who worked for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe during the summer. This week, we are delighted to recognize Narissa “Netha” Thompson, daughter of Eileen Rourke and Darrell Thompson.
Netha was one of the summer intern coordinators who helped run the internship program for the Tribe’s Education Division. As part of her job, she helped review and approve student applications, prepare them for their internship experience, help them refine their career goals, and address any questions that may develop during the course of their internship.
Helping guide some of Akwesasne’s future leaders and professionals was an alluring idea that led Netha to apply for the position, explaining that she liked the opportunity to serve as a mentor to any youth who needed a helping hand, including those who felt “stuck in the corner.”
When asked what the most exciting part about working for the Tribe was this summer she noted, “We are always expanding and learning from the generations to come.” Apart from getting to know the interns, she shared that another favorite part of her internship has been networking within the Tribe and getting to know her fellow tribal employees.
When she’s not at work, you can find Netha fishing with her boyfriend, shopping, traveling, or spending time with her friends, family, or dog. In the fall, she will be working to complete her Bachelor’s Degree at SUNY Potsdam, where she is currently studying Sociology. Netha hopes to return in the near future and continue working in the education field -- whether it be for the Tribe or in a school setting.
On behalf of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, nía:wen/thank you Netha for helping coordinate the internship program this summer and we wish you good luck in all her future endeavors!
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.