Press release from Cal Poly Humboldt:

A new international partnership was formalized earlier this week among Charles Darwin University in Australia and three organizations on the North Coast — Blue Lake Rancheria, Cal Poly Humboldt, and College of the Redwoods.

The new Memorandum of Understanding is the result of multiple years of discussion. It was signed Tuesday during a week-long visit to the area by a delegation from Charles Darwin University.

Full Signed MOU (pdf)

The agreement calls for ongoing cooperation and projects that support a variety of goals, including opportunities for students and staff to study, research, and work internationally; exchange of academic materials or information; exchange of information and ideas among First Nations communities; joint research and researcher exchange; cooperation in conferences, workshops, and symposiums; commerce exchange opportunities; and other agreed-upon opportunities.

Charles Darwin University is a remote institution in the Northern Territory of Australia, and it also has campuses throughout the country. The Northern Territory makes up about one-sixth of Australia. It is home to just 1% of the population, of whom 30% are First Nations Peoples.

CDU and the North Coast organizations initially began discussing a potential partnership related to development of the new undersea cable that will connect the areas with high-speed internet. After more focused discussions, and a visit to CDU by a North Coast delegation, it became clear that there was a shared interest and expertise in multiple areas. These include traditional indigenous knowledge, tribal governance and economic development, wildfire management, environmental sustainability, renewable energy, rural healthcare, and rural education at all levels.

The delegation from CDU is meeting with experts and visiting sites throughout the region this week, with a focus on identifying specific initial projects to pursue as part of the partnership. They are being hosted by Blue Lake Rancheria.