Actua and Canadore College are launching the new Kikandaaswiwin Mookiisin virtual Indigenous science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) training program today.

After successfully completing the program, those taking part will receive three college General Education credits.

“Now more than ever, educators, school boards, and senior levels of government are looking for new classroom settings to teach youth. Many are turning to outdoor, experiential learning environments. Indigenous people have always used the land as a classroom,” said Doug Dokis, Director of Actua’s National Indigenous Youth in STEM (InSTEM) program. “Actua has been delivering on-the-land for-credit programming across the country for the past three years through our InSTEM program model. We are proud to be supporting this ongoing learning through our partnership with Canadore College to launch the Kikandaaswiwin Mookiisin STEM/STEAM Instructor-teacher Virtual Training.”

“Kiikandaaswiwin Mookiisin speaks to the land as our teacher. Everything we need for life is here for us on the land, hence our dependent relationship with the land, and water should be our first understanding,” said Mary Wabano, Director of Academic Operations and Business Development, and Director of the First Peoples Centre at Canadore College. “The time to deepen our collective understanding of this fundamental relationship has never been more critical. Indigenous Knowledge in STEAM is taking a lead in the development of technology based in ancient ways of knowing. This is but a small step to sharing our approach to preparing our youth for futures in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics rooted in Indigenous Knowledge and our connection to our lands. We are proud and excited to share this with you at this time in a remote delivery.”

Once the first round of training is done this month, officials will develop subsequent training opportunities for K-12 teachers and Indigenous high school youth.

 

(File photo by station staff)

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