Tó Nizhóní Ání welcomes 2026 summer interns
FLAGSTAFF, AZ – On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Tó Nizhóní Ání welcomed the summer interns to the Flagstaff sub-office. 2026 marks the four consecutive year the organization has hired summer interns. This year, the interns will work with the Watershed Restoration, Black Mesa Plant Project, and the Business Office as they drive into the organization’s mission and learn from project leads.
“It’s always exciting to hire summer interns,” said Nicole Horseherder, Tó Nizhóní Ání Executive Director. “I’m happy they chose to spend their summer with us, where they’ll share in meaningful work.”
Tó Nizhóní Ání’s (TNA) College Internship Program is a meaningful part of the organizational work to develop new leaders in Environmental Justice and a Just Equitable Transition for communities impacted by coal. Interns will engage with the campaigns and projects to which they applied, contributing to day-to-day work while advancing toward clearly defied learning objectives.
“I was fortunate to start our as the Plant Project’s initial intern a few years back,” said Raeanna Johnson, Lead Intern with the Black Mesa Plant Project. “Since then, it has to been shaped by many passionate students and teachers alike. I’m excited to continue learning, leading, and carrying this project forward this summer.”
What started as an idea and rough intern project in 2022 grew into the ethnobotany project it is today. The Dził Yíjiin Nanise’ (Black Mesa Plant) project strives to create a comprehensive plant identification guide that documents Black Mesa’s flora – including their Diné names, traditional uses, and cultural significance. This project intends to apply traditional ecological knowledge to advocate for meaningful reclamation on Black Mesa to restore native plant communities to coal-impacted lands.
The summer interns joining Raeanna this year are Artrisha Charley and Kaya Dickso. Artrisha is Naaneesht’ézhí Tábaahí born for Deeshchii’nii, and she is from the community of Balakai, Arizona. She is a rising senior at Northern Arizona Univeristy, majoring in Biology. She is excited to become more involved in the community and learn more about how Diné people can continue to grow and learn, while preserving our traditional knowledge and cultural values.
Kaya Dickson is Yé’ii Dine’é Táchii’nii, and she is from the community of Kaibeto, Arizona. Kaya is a recent graduate from Northern Arizona University, where she majored in Sociology and had a minor in Criminology/Criminal Justice. Kaya is excited to work on research that respects and connects to the land, and to be part of a team with strong leaders and advocates.
“Like Raeanna, I also started with TNA as an intern,” said Andrew Atencia, Watershed Restoration project lead. “My goal this summer is to guide and empower my intern by shadowing me so they can gain firsthand experience in watershed restoration practices on-the-ground.”
The Black Mesa region is an upland mountainous region within the Navajo Nation that encompasses seven (7) Chapter communities and five watersheds. Because of this, water availability is of the utmost importance, especially for a region whose water has been heavily impacted by coal mining. TNA’s Watershed Restoration campaign works with key stakeholders to identify areas of need and construct a multi-level approach to repair, restore, and protect the land and aquifers below.
TNA’s Watershed Restoration campaign will include one summer intern who began early on this project. Leanna Cox is from Gunlock, Utah, and currently resides in Flagstaff, Arizona. Leanna completed her freshman year at Northern Arizona University, where she is studying Environmental Science. Leanna is excited to learn about how Earth science will be combined with advocacy to restore regenerative systems on Black Mesa.
Returning for the third summer as an intern with TNA is Titus Bert. Titus is Kin Yaa’áanii, from the community of Piñon, Arizona. Titus is a recent graduate of Northern Arizona University, where he earned his bachelor’s in visual communication with an emphasis in graphic design. Titus is interning with the TNA Business Office and is excited to learn from the TNA team and implement what he’s learned from his previous job with ITEP.
Tó Nizhóní Ání thanks Artrisha, Kaya, Leanna, Titus, and Raeanna for choosing to spend their summer with TNA to bring power back to Diné communities impacted by coal.
For more information about our summer internship, please email info@tonizhoniani.org
