A historic agreement between the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has created the first-ever UC Cooperative Extension Tribal Extension Office.

Located on tribal land at the Middletown Rancheria headquarters, the office opened on June 2. It will facilitate culturally informed research and education projects on a variety of challenges facing local agriculture and natural resources.

UC ANR and Middletown Rancheria signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 23, formalizing a partnership deeply rooted in mutual respect, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and community-driven scientific research – establishing a model for future tribal-academic collaborations nationwide.

“Our Cooperative Extension offices in the counties — and the people that are sitting here —they’re a conduit; they’re a door to so many resources above and beyond just themselves,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources, during the signing ceremony. “And we’ve got some amazing people that have joined us to serve in these county offices.”

Read the whole story at UCnet

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