First nations
Building foundations for collaborative research
about us
What’s the problem we’re trying to
solve?
First Nations peoples around the world are disproportionately impacted by climate change, the extraction of natural resources and the transitions shaping the future of energy. Yet, their voices, knowledge systems, and priorities are often excluded from research and decision-making processes — especially in industries like copper mining that affect land, water and sovereignty.
If we are to transition to a just and sustainable future, research must be shaped and led by First Nations communities — not just be about them. This means building enduring, respectful relationships that empower First Nations leadership and insight in addressing the global copper challenge and beyond.
solution
How does this research provide a solution?
This work package (WP00) forms Phase 1 of the Centre’s First Nations Research Agenda. It lays the groundwork for meaningful collaboration with First Nations communities in Australia, while preparing for future engagement with Indigenous groups internationally.
Rather than beginning with a predefined research agenda and outputs, WP00 focuses on building the right foundations: trust, capability, and co-designed priorities. It aims to invest in the relationships and structures needed to ensure First Nations-led knowledge systems shape the future direction of research at the Centre — from copper extraction to broader energy transition challenges.
process
What exactly are we doing?
This phase of work includes:
- Establishing collaborative research relationships with First Nations groups in Australia, using existing networks through the Indigenous-led First Nations Portfolio (FNP) at the Australian National University (ANU). We have established a collaborative relationship with the Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd (NYFL) in Ieramugadu (Roebourne) Western Australia – the ‘heartland’ of resource extraction in Australia, which is central to WP00.
- Co-developing research priorities through community workshops that explore Indigenous views on sovereignty, resilience, rights, and the implications of mining and energy transitions.
- Building First Nations research capability, including:
- Scholarships for Indigenous students
- Mentorship programmes
- Appointment of First Nations Research Fellows to shape the Centre’s long-term agenda
- International preparation: Conducting a series of workshops with partner institutions at the University of British Columbia, University of the Witwatersrand, and UC Berkeley to prepare for Phase 2 — a globally-connected First Nations research programme.
team
Who’s involved?
This work is led by two experienced researchers with deep expertise in Indigenous rights, resource extraction, and policy:
- Peter Yu – Australian National University
- Nick Bainton – Australian National University
It is supported by several research-intensive units at ANU and delivered in collaboration with the university’s First Nations Portfolio, which is internationally recognised for its Indigenous leadership and research excellence, and the Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd.
goals
What are our objectives and long-term goals?
- Build a collaborative research framework led by First Nations perspectives
- Enable Indigenous communities to define the research priorities that matter to them
- Support the next generation of First Nations scholars and research leaders
- Ensure future projects within the Centre are co-designed, inclusive, and grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems
- Prepare for global collaboration with First Nations communities in mining-affected regions
outcome
Primary outcome of WP00
By the end of Phase 1, the Centre will be equipped with the relationships, processes, and capabilities to co-design research agendas that foreground First Nations rights and interests in relation to copper production and supply chains — with lessons that apply across the global energy transition and other grand challenges set by the Centre.
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