Summer festivals bring science to First Nations youth

Page 6

First Nations children across Saskatchewan will have a chance to have some fun this summer, and learn about science at the same time, thanks to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nation's (FSIN) annual summer science program.

The program consists of a series of 10 science festivals, to be held in communities across the province throughout the summer.

The aim of the annual science program is to demystify math and science for the children participating in the various festivals, and to show them the connection between western science, and traditional knowledge.

The theme of this year's festivals will be protecting our riverbeds and shorelines, explained Barb Frazer, manager of the science program within the FSIN's education and training secretariat.

The theme fits in with the United Nations designation of 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater. As such, the summer science program has received patronage from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

"The whole purpose is to show First Nations youth and their families that their water needs protection, and their water needs caretaking, and their water needs stewardship. There needs to be some stewardship and caretaking of mother earth. These are going to be future leaders, and future community members. And I think it's important that they start looking at how to protect their homelands for their future use," Frazer explained.

The summer science program will look at climate change from a First Nations perspective, and will also examine the impact of pollutants on the environment-from a single drop of fuel introduced into a water system, to the long term impacts of a candy wrapper tossed on the ground.

"The festivals are designed to be an environmental, educational event, meant for ages eight to 30, but we are targeting all ages, right from the young ones to the Elders. And one of our major features this summer is at each of the events we're going to have a male and female Elder/traditional knowledge keeper who will be sharing their knowledge, their traditional science that has been passed on within in their family, with the youth."

This year the FSIN is partnering with Saskatchewan Indian Federated College's (SIFC) science department on the science camps, as well as with the Saskatchewan Science Centre, so both organizations will be making presentations during the camps. The University of Saskatchewan is also expected to get into the act, with Dr. Lee Wilson from the U of S College of Arts and Science, the first Metis student to earn a PhD in chemistry at the university, scheduled to share some water science with the young campers.

The summer science program is just one initiative the FSIN science program will be teaming up with SIFC on, thanks to a new science strategy the two organizations have worked to create.

"This science strategy is a partnership of provincial, national and international networks. The whole purpose is to promote science and technology, to work as a collective within Saskatchewan First Nations to promote science and technology, to encourage and activate First Nations youth to aspire to a high standard of personal success, and also achieve a high academic excellence." Frazer explained.

The first of this summer's science festivals is scheduled for Onion Lake First Nation on July 1. Next on the schedule will be a festival held July 8 and 9 on Flying Dust First Nation, to coincide with that community's hosting of the Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games.

On July 15, it will be Gordon First Nation's turn to host the festival, then on July 17, the travelling science camp will move to Okanese First Nation.

The festival will be in Regina July 21 to 25 at the SIFC, then will move on to Kahkewistahaw First Nation on July 25. On July 28 and 29, the U of S will host the camp.

On July 31, the science festival will be held on Big River First Nation, travelling to Shoal Lake First Nation on Aug. 6, ad ending its summer run on Red Earth First Nation on Aug. 7.

For more information about the FSIN's summer science camps, call the FSIN science program at 1-866-442-7444.