Indigenous company Indigital and mining giant Rio Tinto have partnered on an initiative that combines Traditional Knowledge with digital innovation to protect and restore Country and strengthen culture.

Initially focused on communities in Far North Queensland, the Caring for Country program would also boost sustainable mining practices for the energy transition and enable Indigenous communities to harness conservation technologies, such as AI-driven data analysis, mapping land features and environmental sensors to monitor soil and water health.

The program's Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality focus would better capture and preserve cultural knowledge and languages and, via integration of technology with Traditional Knowledge, help broaden and create economic opportunities, including employment, entrepreneurship and new industries.

The three-year program across four remote Indigenous communities in Queensland - including Weipa, Aurukun, Napranum and Mapoon - would engage Indigenous Elders, Traditional Owners, teachers, rangers, technologists and students to develop local solutions for environmental challenges.

Indigital founder and chief executive Mikaela Jade said the path to a sustainable future must be grounded in cultural wisdom, trust, and collaboration.

"This partnership with Rio Tinto is a powerful example of what's possible when Indigenous knowledge and technology come together to solve global challenges at a local level," she said.

"We're equipping the next generation with digital skills and conservation tools, while centring cultural wisdom to preserve Country and drive long-term sustainable change.

"We are co-designing the program with community and we track progress diligently and respectfully through our social reciprocity framework, which we are developing as part of this work."

Rio Tinto Australia CEO Kellie Parker said the miner was proud to be working with Indigital on the project, which would harness the power of Traditional Owners' cultural knowledge of their land and water for everyone's benefit, and build opportunities for future generations.

"We continue to strengthen our approach to working and partnering with Indigenous Peoples, including by promoting greater recognition and inclusion in decision making," she said.

"We hope that through Caring for Country, the lives of those in remote Indigenous communities can be enriched, and they can better share in the benefits of future sustainable development."

Caring for Country is a community-led program, with a focus on trust and collaboration and prioritising the voices and expertise of Indigenous communities to ensure solutions are culturally grounded and sustainable.

In its first year, the program focused on building trust, connection and a shared vision with the communities, as well as setting cultural protocols critical for success and exploring and capturing local stories using technology, safeguarding them for generations. In years two and three, the team would increase the range of skills within communities via targeted conservation technologies.

The development of these skills would help them embed practices that more efficiently and effectively care for Country. Community members could then support Rio Tinto implementing more sustainable mining practices.

Alngith Traditional Owner, Uncle Ernest Madua Junior, said the program taught resilience and positivity for the future.

"Gathering for the Indigital program, we're like one big family, sitting around the replace, sharing stories," he said.

"With our Elders present and the kids involved, it sets the tone for our children to think differently."

Ebony Doyle, Mbaiwum-Trotj, an Alngith Traditional Owner, said she wasn't content using technology before the Indigital program.

"I've never entertained the idea of taking up AI as a tool in my career. Now I see how it can help tell our story in new and wonderful ways," she said.

The Caring for Country initiative will continue through 2026, with the aim of setting a global benchmark for community-led, tech-driven environmental action, with lasting benefits for Indigenous communities.

Indigital's program would utilise First Nations knowledge with technologies across natural resource and renewables sectors to restore and monitor landscapes, and help reduce the impacts of mining.

The company has a rigorous approach to measuring its social impact and is a trusted intermediary between industry and community, majority Indigenous-owned and managed, and a 100 per cent female-owned business.