The Indigenous Land-Camp Experience, An Inside Look
Learn about the importance of land-based learning with an inside look at Actua's 2022 Sahtu STEM camp, in partnership with Black Spruce Education.
Actua Welcomes Newest Network Member, Waawaaskonwe Niigaan ISTEAM program at Algoma University
August 26, 2024
Actua is pleased to welcome Algoma University’s Waawaaskonwe Niigaan ISTEAM program as our newest network member. Through land camps and other STEM outreach programs, they will play a significant role in inspiring the next generation of leaders in Sault Ste. Marie and beyond. The Actua network includes over 40 universities and colleges across Canada, all dedicated to providing youth with barrier-free and transformative STEM experiences.
“Each year, the Actua network engages 375,000 youth in 600 communities across the country. The Waawaaskonwe Niigaan ISTEAM program at Algoma University will be an integral part of this national impact and together, we will continue to relentlessly remove barriers so that all youth can be engaged in STEM,” said Jennifer Flanagan, CEO of Actua.
Waawaaskonwe Niigaan, meaning “there is a light ahead,” serves as a beacon for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students, guiding them through their path toward post-secondary education. This program stands out for its unique approach, which prioritizes the integration of Indigenous cultural teachings and land-based experiential learning with STEM practices. This holistic approach creates an engaging and inspiring learning experience for Indigenous youth. The program aims to reach 700-800 youth annually.
“Joining the Actua network represents an opportunity to grow the Waawaaskonwe Niigaan program through collaboration with Actua and its vast network. Being a part of Actua allows for sharing ideas, learning new and best practices, networking opportunities, relationship building across the country and innovation, ultimately benefiting the Indigenous youth and communities that Algoma University serves,” said Paul Sayers, Manager, Indigenous Community Relations at Algoma University.
Engaging Youth in STEAM Opportunities
The Waawaaskonwe Niigaan ISTEAM program actively engages youth in various enriching STEM opportunities through camps and activities tailored to their unique needs. The program engages all youth and offers customized programs for Indigenous youth.
For example, a Waawaskonwe Niigaan land camp was held in 2023, hosted in partnership with the Mattagami First Nation. The camp brought together Indigenous youth to engage in hands-on science and engineering activities that wove together the essential principles of land-based and Indigenous Knowledge. Participants left the camp with new friends and mentors who can support them in their education journey, environmental stewardship, leadership and cultural teachings, allowing them to give back to their communities.
The Waawaaskonwe Niigaan ISTEAM program provides culturally based experiential learning in collaboration with Algoma University’s Anishinaabe initiatives, Anishinaabe Academic Resource Center and through partnerships with Mattagami First Nation. A notable achievement is the Memorandum of Understanding with the Mattagami First Nation, setting the stage for future partnerships with other First Nations and Indigenous communities. With this partnership, the Waawaaskonwe Niigaan ISTEAM program hopes to:
Participants of the Waawaskonwe Niigaan land camp learning how to craft drums as an integration of Indigenous cultural teachings and land-based experiential learning with STEM practices.
- Make post-secondary education more accessible by providing opportunities for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth to earn dual credits, an opportunity to earn a high school course credit and an Algoma University course credit simultaneously.
- Connect Indigenous youth to culturally based experiential learning opportunities, Elders, ceremony, language and other Indigenous youth.
- Respond to the educational needs of First Nations and urban Indigenous youth and communities.
- Empower Indigenous and youth historically underrepresented in higher education.
- Equip students with the potential to excel but have faced systemic barriers due to socioeconomic status, race or ethnicity, family history or other factors.
Participants of the Waawaskonwe Niigaan land camp held in 2023, hosted in partnership with the Mattagami First Nation.