This conference grant project is the collaborative effort of a tribal college and unviersity (aaniiih nakoda college), a non land grant college of agriculture (university of wisconsin-platteville),…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Aaniiih Nakoda College $150,000 on December 1, 2025, under the 1994 Institutions Research Grants program (CFDA 10.227) to convene and expand a multinational soil health and water quality research network.

The project funds partner convenings at the World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Education in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, New Zealand (2025) and the First American Land-Grant Consortium annual conference in Denver, Colorado (2026). Aaniiih Nakoda College, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Massey University, and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, will recruit additional tribal college and New Zealand network collaborators; inventory relevant resources and facilities among participants; identify and share water quality, soil health, and environmental challenges across the network; and develop a network action plan for future collaborative research, education, and outreach activities. The award period runs through November 30, 2027, with place of performance in Harlem, Montana. The project supports the Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program's focus on building research capacity at tribal colleges in agriculture and natural resources while preparing students for agricultural careers.

This conference grant project is the collaborative effort of a tribal college and unviersity (aaniiih nakoda college), a non land grant college of agriculture (university of wisconsin-platteville), a federal reseach program (USDA agricultural research service), and international partners (massey university, aotearoa/new zealand) participating in the recently established TCU-nlgca soil health and water quality research network. The goals of the network are to develop a multinational, multicultural network of scientists and educators; establish coordinated research programs; provide hands-on research experiences and training for culturally diverse undergraduate students; and establish a coordinated data management system. The overall goal of this conference proposal, which is carried out with support and assistance from the american indian higher education consortium (aihec), is to increase awareness of and participation in the TCU-nlgca soil health and water quality research network by (1) recruiting additional TCU and new zealand network collaborators; (2) inventorying relevant resources and facilities available among network collaborators; (3) identifying and sharing water quality, soil health, and other environmental challenges common across the network; and (4) formulating plans for potential collaborative research, education, and outreach activities. Key project activities include partner convenings at the world indigenous peoples' conference on education (wipce) in tamaki makaurau, aukland, new zealand (2025) and the first american land-grant consortium (falcon) annual conference in denver, colorado (2026), as well as the development of a network action plan to serve as the foundation for future collaborative work. The project advances the purpose and priorities of the tribal colleges research grants program, as well as the goals and priorities of USDA's strategic plan FY 2022-2026 and science and research strategy (2023-2026). Additionally, the project furthers the aims of nifa by promoting global engagement intended to advance U.S. Agricultural goals. Students will play key roles in numerous project activities by attending conferences, participating in network site visits, making presentations, and engaging in collaborative research, education and outreach planning activities.