Recipient Organization
SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
9169 COORS RD NW, BOX 10146
ALBUQUERQUE,NM 87184
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
American Indian and Alaska Native tribal nations live with many challenges and opportunities, such as climate change, the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the infusion of federal and state funds to assist or address long overdue infrastructure needs. As a result, they are faced with the need to be agile, to identify cultural assets that have long sustained communities, while engaging in continuous assessment and planning, collaborating and utilizing technologies that ensure the sustainability of tribal communities.The Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Extension Program has two major, initial goals:1.Identify and prioritize community needs to inform and guide Extension Program development through direct communication and outreach with tribes.2.Address the extension needs of communities by building upon relevant activities and products of SIPI's academic programs and current and planned projects.The SIPI Extension Program will work with tribal stakeholders to identify needs and share STEM knowledge and expertise built on equity and inclusion. SIPI has an extensive tradition of offering STEM learning opportunities to Native American students. The Extension Program will leverage existing STEM initiatives to engage Native students and share new technologies with tribes.The initial focus is on Pueblos and tribes, tribal colleges, and SIPI faculty and students in New Mexico and the Southwest region. Opportunities for expansion to communities in other regions will be explored and evaluated in parallel. The project will seek the services of an external evaluator to articulate an evaluation plan for the project.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Goals and ObjectivesOur proposed Extension Program for 2022-2027 has two major goals:1. Identify and prioritize community needs to inform and guide Extension Program development through direct communication and outreach with tribes.2. Address the extension needs of communities by building upon relevant activities and products of SIPI's academic programs and current and planned sponsored projects.The specific objectives and activities that support these goals are described as follows:Goal 1: Identify and prioritize needs for community-centered education and training to inform and guide future Extension Program goals and activities.Objective 1.1 Conduct direct communication and outreach with tribes to receive input on community needs.Target Community: The initial focus is on Pueblos and tribes in New Mexico and the Southwest region. Opportunities for expansion to communities in other regions will be explored and evaluated in parallel.Activities: Organize and conduct events to invite and gather input from Pueblos and tribes on community needs and priorities for education and other outreach activities on agriculture and other topics relevant to SIPI's land-grant status and Extension Program.Relevant SIPI Project: Keepseagle, including the SIPI greenhouse facility for education and training.Goal 2: Address the extension needs of communities by building upon relevant activities and products of SIPI's current and planned sponsored projects and academic programs.Objective 2.1 Enhance the capacity of communities to integrate innovative science, technology, traditional knowledge and values for effective management of agricultural resources and sustainable agriculture.Target Community: TCUs and Tribal NationsActivities: Deliver information, training and guidance on: (1) technology, systems, and methods for environmental and agricultural monitoring and analysis to inform decision-making for community response to environmental health hazards, drought, and climate change, and (2) digital network systems that support Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) and Indigenous Data Governance (IDG) for environmental and agricultural monitoring.Relevant SIPI Project: "A Sovereign Network System for Environmental Monitoring, Data and Information Exchange, and Collaboration among Tribal Colleges and Universities", grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Computer Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) Program. Phase 1 is funded for 10/2021 to 9/2023; Phase 2 Extension Project will be proposed in early 2023 for 10/2023 to 9/2027.Objective 2.2 Support TCEP-CA purpose and priorities for enhanced Traditional Ecological Knowledge, agricultural productivity, and community resilience by extending the reach of innovations in research and technology and providing experiential opportunities that prepare students for practical applications.Target Community: SIPI students and facultyActivities: Create a dialogue and space to increase awareness and build community relationships for culturally responsive teaching and learning.Obtain data via needs analysis and stakeholder meetings/forumsIdentify partners for student experiential learning opportunities and community- based researchRelevant SIPI Project: USDA NIFA, TCEP-CA, 4-year continuation grant (9/2022 - 8/2026)Objective 2.3 Enhance the capacity of Native communities and individuals to make informed decisions on STEM issues, as well as Environmental Stewardship and Justice directives that affect the regional community.Target Community: TCUs, Local Environmental Organizations, and Pueblo Tribal Environmental OrganizationsActivities: Deliver information, training and guidance to other TCUs and Tribal Environmental groups on: (1) Traditional Ecological (Indigenous) Knowledge materialsthat relate to Environmental Stewardship and Justice, (2) support for environmental monitoring and analysis to inform decision-making for community response to environmental health hazards, social justice issues and stewardship programming, and (3) support the growth in environmental student leadership with support programming in Environmental Stewardship and Justice.Relevant SIPI Program: Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources, and Advanced Technical Education Dept., SIPI, 5/2022 to 6/2024Objective 2.4 Enhance the capacity of communities and individuals to use GIT to improve effective management of agricultural and natural resources on tribal lands.Target Community: TCUs and Tribal NationsActivities: Coordinate and support the development and delivery of topical courses and/or workshops in GIT for continuing education and professional development in tribal communities.Relevant SIPI Program: Geospatial Information Technology (GIT) Program, Advanced Technical Education Dept., SIPI, 5/2023-8/2027.
Project Methods
Activities to achieve our objectives and goals are describes as follows.Objective 1.1. Conduct direct communication and outreach with tribes to receive input on community needs.Organize and conduct events to invite and gather input from Pueblos and tribes on community needs and priorities for education and other outreach activities on agriculture and other topics relevant to SIPI's land-grant status and Extension Program.Objective 2.1. Enhance the capacity of communities to integrate innovative science, technology, traditional knowledge and values for effective management of agricultural resources and sustainable agriculture.Deliver information, training and guidance on: (1) technology, systems, and methods for environmental and agricultural monitoring and analysis to inform decision-making for community response to environmental health hazards, drought, and climate change, and (2) digital network systems that support Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) and Indigenous Data Governance (IDG) for environmental and agricultural monitoring.Objective 2.2. Support TCEP-CA purpose and priorities for enhanced Traditional Ecological Knowledge, agricultural productivity, and community resilience by extending the reach of innovations in research and technology and providing experiential opportunities that prepare students for practical applications.Create a dialogue and space to increase awareness and build community relationships for culturally responsive teaching and learning.?Obtaindatavianeedsanalysisandstakeholder?Identifypartnersforstudentexperientiallearningopportunitiesand community- based researchObjective 2.3. Enhance the capacity of Native communities and individuals to make informed decisions on STEM issues, as well as Environmental Stewardship and Justice directives that affect the regional community.Deliver information, training and guidance to other TCUs and Tribal Environmental groups on: (1) Traditional Ecological (Indigenous) Knowledge materials that relate to Environmental Stewardship and Justice, (2) support for environmental monitoring and analysis to inform decision-making for community response to environmental health hazards, social justice issues and stewardship programming, and (3) support the growth in environmental student leadership with support programming in Environmental Stewardship and JusticeObjective 2.4. Enhance the capacity of communities and individuals to use GIT to improve effective management of agricultural and natural resources on tribal lands.Coordinate and support the development and delivery of topical courses and/or workshops in GIT for continuing education and professional development in tribal communities.