A partnership between Idaho National Laboratory and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes is opening doors for young people across Bonneville County to launch careers in high-demand skilled trades. The Tribal Future Corps, now in its fifth year, spent the summer preparing 15 tribal youth for hands-on work in construction, welding, equipment operation, and related fields.
The four-week program combines practical training with instruction rooted in four core principles: integrity, leadership, confidence, and adaptability. By the conclusion of this year’s session, participating students had earned certifications in their chosen trades and demonstrated their capabilities at an end-of-summer skills showcase.
Real Skills, Real Credentials
Keylii Tsosie, 19, emerged from the program with certification to operate a scissor lift—a credential that opens immediate employment opportunities on job sites across the region. “Getting my license to run the lift made me feel very accomplished and I was grateful for the opportunity to be able to do something new,” Tsosie said.
Eighteen-year-old Ace Mendez participated with a specific career target in mind: welding. Like other participants, Mendez combined classroom instruction with supervised field experience, building competency in a trade facing a nationwide shortage of skilled workers. Seventeen-year-old Mireya Dogsleep also completed the summer curriculum.
The program addresses a critical workforce gap in Idaho Falls and surrounding areas. Skilled trades—from construction and electrical work to heavy equipment operation—consistently rank among the highest-paying career paths available to high school graduates, yet many young people overlook them in favor of traditional four-year college routes.
Partnership Built on Opportunity
The memorandum of understanding between Idaho National Laboratory and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes reflects a broader commitment to building the region’s workforce from within. Matt Bates, who serves as INL’s coordinator for the Tribal Future Corps, views the program through the lens of long-term community benefit. “To see my graduates pursuing careers and thriving is what makes this work so meaningful,” Bates said.
The collaboration also strengthens ties between INL, which operates as one of the largest employers in East Idaho, and the tribal nations whose ancestral lands encompass much of the surrounding region. By creating clear pathways from high school to employment, the program helps retain talent within the community while addressing labor demands that have grown as the region’s economy diversifies beyond agriculture and tourism.
Pam Eschief, superintendent of Sho-Ban Junior/Senior High School, works directly with students and families interested in the program. The school’s location puts it in proximity to INL’s Idaho Falls operations and to the skilled trades jobs that support the national laboratory and regional construction projects.
What Comes Next
Graduates of the Tribal Future Corps now hold credentials that allow them to seek employment immediately or pursue apprenticeships that combine work and additional training. The program’s five-year track record suggests momentum will continue building as more tribal youth learn of the opportunity.
INL and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have signaled their intention to keep the program running, ensuring another cohort of tribal youth can access hands-on training and certifications this coming summer. For young people across Bonneville County looking to build careers in skilled trades, the Tribal Future Corps represents a proven pathway to employment and financial stability without the debt burden of a four-year degree.