It represents the recognition of tribal sovereignty and seeks to strengthen the educational experience and cultural relevance for Hoopa Tribal members attending both campuses. The goal is to strengthen the learning experiences for students and to build effective leaders with skills to strategize the challenges facing the tribe.
Specifically, the Tribe has asked for assistance in building economic development, strengthening the workforce for future clean energy jobs, repairing and designing aging infrastructures, building ecological sustainable methods of growing healthy foods and protecting culturally significant plants, building the cultural management of natural resources, and strengthening sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
The joint responsibilities include, but are not limited to, building an educational partnership between CR, Cal Poly Humboldt, and the Hoopa Valley Tribe, promoting high school college readiness, increasing transfer rates from CR to Cal Poly Humboldt, designing and developing internships, providing supportive environments for Native students attending both campuses, providing clinics and camps for Native athletes, and collecting data and community needs assessments.
“This MOU reflects the vision and foresight of Chairman Joe Davis and the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council,” says Jackson, Jr. “Over the past year we have worked closely with Chairman Davis to strengthen our partnership with the Tribe and learn about the challenges and issues facing the community. The formality of signing the MOU is a catalyst to form joint initiatives to strengthen opportunities and collaborations. And, most importantly, it will increase access and support at both college campuses for students to build their workforce skills in relation to the needs of the Tribe.”
“I am thrilled about the opportunity to strengthen our partnership with the Hoopa Valley Tribe and Cal Poly Humboldt to support the educational experience of our Hoopa Valley students,” says Flamer. “This MOU, along with CR’s new Native American Student Support & Success Program (NASSS) and our emphasis on environmental career education, will make it easier for our Klamath-Trinity students to transfer and thrive at Cal Poly Humboldt and will bring exciting new green job opportunities to the region.”
“Having this MOU is a blessing to the Tribe that will benefit our Tribal students in a big way for generations to come,” says Davis. “I’m very thankful for Cal Poly Humboldt, College of the Redwoods, and all of my fellow Tribal leaders and staff who worked hard to make this happen.”