Applications open for Leadership Native Oklahoma 2025

Native Commerce News is sponsored by the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma (AICCO), dedicated to expanding Indian Country commerce across the globe. 

(OKLAHOMA) Applications for Leadership Native Oklahoma (LNO) are officially open with the start of the 2025 class just four months away. 

LNO has been taking place since 2016, and this year’s 45 seats are highly coveted because of the unique opportunities to visit new tribes and engage in person with tribal leadership. A record 17 applications were received as soon as the application form opened. 

Ayla Medrano is a graduate of the LNO class of 2018 and the Lead Coordinator for LNO 2025. 

Medrano said this year’s class will include a special opening for the first session in March. 

"I will say that this will be one of the first times we will have over three tribes in one session,” said Medrano. “There will be a session, just a little sneak peek, where we will have more than one tribe in attendance hosting on one day so that is really exciting.”

Medrano also said LNO 2025 will be unlike any other leadership program that exists because of its specific focus on incorporating Native ways into leadership style. 

“We're also going to be really implementing our culture and language, as we are a Native people, into our leadership and how that corresponds with how we function working in two worlds, our Native world and non-Native world,” Medrano said. “And, you know, opening those doors for our leaders and for the ones coming up behind us so we can have that path of showing different styles of leadership.” 

LNO is an opportunity for class participants to hear about each other’s initiatives and create new partnerships with one another through networking and camaraderie. Each class is diverse, consisting of tribal leaders past and present, mayors, tribal court officials, business leaders, and other professionals.

LNO participants also have an opportunity to tour unique tribal facilities and enjoy traditional lunches. 

Additionally, AICCO will take new steps in 2025 to ensure that participation with LNO alumni is maintained and expanded as the new class gets underway. 

“We are also going to start having an annual LNO alumni event every February and that will be for all past LNO alumni who have graduated to come together, reunite, and get those classes to mix and meet the 2018 class to the 2023 class to 2024,” said Medrano. “Then at their graduation when this new class will graduate in 2025 in August, after their graduation we will have a get together and celebration to celebrate them graduating which will then bring in the past alumni to meet this new graduating class.” 

The deadline to apply to the LNO Class of 2025 is January 15, 2025. 

Medrano encourages everyone who is interested to apply. 

“It puts you in front of the tribal leaders of these nations and then the directors or the ones working in each of these different programs that are working with maybe the social services or working with the citizens, working to preserve language,” said Medrano. “They have this door of opportunity and ultimately you're just shutting the door on yourself by not applying and not taking that chance to meet a great great group of people and just continually build themselves as a leader for Indian Country."

Classes take place on the fourth Monday of each month starting in March and ending in July with a graduation ceremony and celebration in August. 

If you’re interested in sponsoring LNO 2025 please email chamber@aiccok.org. 

Learn more about the Leadership Native Oklahoma program and apply at https://aiccok.org/leadership-native-oklahoma/