New summer camp offers STEM education from an Indigenous perspective

High school students fromAamjiwnaang First Nation and Six Nations of The Grand Riverare taking part in a summer camp that teaches science, technology, engineering and math also known asSTEM from an Indigenous perspective.

Gadewayhsta Ohwjagehka: (Learning on the Land) is a 15-day course taking place at the Six Nations Polytechnic campus inOhsweken, Ont. It is one of five similar camps in Ontario organized by Actua, a national organization dedicated to promoting STEM among youth.

"It's part of our national program to reach out to Indigenous communities and youth ... and introduce them to STEM," saidDoug Dokis, senior advisor for Actua's national InSTEMprogram.

"It's to take them on the land and help them to recognize and identifywith ... Indigenous land-based knowledge and connecting [it with STEM]."

The organization ran a pilot camp last year and this year is an official launch.

Students receive a high school credit for participation in the camp. During the course, they are connected with local knowledge-keepers and elders.

Dokishad just visited a sister camp organized by Actua inAkwesasne, a Mohawk nation on both banks of the St. Lawrence River.

He told Afternoon Drivehost Chris dela Torre about how students there caught and dissected sturgeon and were instructed by a knowledge-keeper abouthow the spinal cord of the fish is used to make traditional lacrosse sticks.

"Kids learn better when they're involved directly with experiences on the land,"Dokissaid. "Indigenous communities and people have always known this, so we've been ... developing these programs in as many communities across the country as we can."

Tap on the player to hear more of theirconversation.