Last week, 50 youths aged 12-15 came together in Thunder Bay to attend the second-annual First Nations and Inuit National Science Camp—and to enjoy the sights that attract any tourist.
But these were not your regular tourists.
They came from as far away as the Yukon and northern Baffin Island, and some of them didn’t even speak English, but they all shared at least two things in common.
All were from First Nation or Inuit communities in every region of the country except British Columbia and the Maritimes, and all had to demonstrate an aptitude in science.
The science camp was a collaboration between Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Seven Generations Education Institute. The idea behind it is twofold.
“The target group is [age] 12-15,” organizer Laura Horton explained. “These kids are still doing science fairs and are just entering high school, where they only have to take science to Grade 10.
“We want them to take it all the way through.”
At the same time, the camp gives the students an opportunity to reconnect with their culture—and serves as a reminder not all medicines are the result of research by the giant pharmaceutical companies.
Much of the knowledge we use today has been in the domain of First Nations for centuries.
“They need to know their traditional science, as well,” Horton said. “Seventy percent of pharmaceuticals today come from indigenous plants. There’s always been a blend of sciences.”
In order to qualify for the camp, the students had to demonstrate both an interest and an aptitude for science by competing first at the regional and then the provincial level.
Since only 50 students ultimately were chosen, the competition was keen.
As this year’s host, Ontario was represented by 10 students while the other provinces and territories sent five each. Some travelled a considerable distance to be here.
“We have three kids here from north of 70 [degrees latitude],” noted Horton.
The agenda for the week-long excursion was packed with activities and travel. It began May 31 at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, which served as the base of operations.
The real activity began the next day with a tour of Old Fort William and a display of the Medewin—an Ojibwa society dedicated to the healing of the sick. It has been described as the oldest medical association in Ontario.
They then spent that evening with the Superior Society planning and constructing a bridge.
The students were joined for breakfast last Monday by Ontario Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman, who is a member of the Mnjikaning First Nation.
The rest of the day was spent learning about forensic science with the Thunder Bay crime science unit, attending an interactive workshop at the Aboriginal Community Health Centre, and a workshop for renewable energies.
Last Tuesday, the students worked with a forestry simulator and attended an engineering workshop.
Wednesday saw the students travel to Atikokan, where they toured the Snow Lake fish hatchery before heading to the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historic Centre near Barwick.
They spent the night in tents there before rolling into Fort Frances for lunch at the United Native Friendship Centre on Thursday, and then headed to Nanicost, where they built solar ovens and hand-painted carved wooden canoes, which later were released in the watersheds at their home reserves.
Each canoe had a special code on it in the event it was found so the finder can trace its origin and the name of the person who released it by going to www.riverofdreams.org
The group returned to Thunder Bay last Thursday evening after a picnic dinner in Quetico Provincial Park east of Atikokan.
The students wound up their camp Friday with a final tour of the medical, science, and technology laboratories at Lakehead U. before heading home—no doubt taking with them enough memories and new knowledge to challenge them in the future.
In at least one case, the experience has had a profound influence on the direction future endeavours will take.
“This science camp had inspired me to go into medicine,” said Tyson Wright, a Grade 9 student from Siksika, Alta.
Horton said the science camp will continue in future years—even though the concept was met with considerable skepticism initially.
“The specialist said it couldn’t be done because it’s too hard, but we saw an opportunity to bring science right to these kids,” she noted. “The knowledge is there, but we need to balance it with hands-on opportunities.”
But Horton acknowledged it wasn’t just about education. After all, these are just kids.
“We’re having great fun,” she said. “This is what it’s all about.”
In addition to INAC and the Seven Generations Education Institute, the science camp also received funding from Lakehead University, Bell Canada, Lambton College, Mattawa First Nations Management, Voyageur Panel, Abitibi-Consolidated, and Honda.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
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