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IndigeSTEAM Update Second Annual STEM Leadership and Mentors Retreat – May 2020 – Plans Underway!
IndigeSTEAM is a non-profit based here in Calgary, Alberta focused on Indigenous youth success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through the incorporation of arts, culture and humanities (STEAM). (indigesteam.ca) In the past year we have held our first Leaders and Mentors Retreat, which evolved to be a space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, leaders, community members, parents and mentors to come together, share and create ethical space to discuss success strategies to support Indigenous youth in STEM.
Our second retreat will take place in May 2020, and will invite Elders, community members, parents, artists and teachers to join us, Indigenous STEAM professionals, educators and students in this space and take further steps in Indigenization, decolonization and reconciliation in STEM. If you would be interested in volunteering to help organize this co-created, healing transformational STEM event, please email
[email protected].
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or would like to be informed as dates are solidified please email us at
[email protected].
University of Calgary Forming Indigenous STEM Student Club
One of my first goals in the new role at the University of Calgary was to formalize our new Indigenous student STEM Club. Formed in the Schulich School of Engineering, this club will be open to all University of Calgary Indigenous students in any Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math focused discipline and its goal will be to build a community of support and connection for Indigenous students in STEM. This club is led by the first members, students I feel deeply humbled and blessed to know. It is my intention that the club and it’s priorities will be led by them, for them, and my role is to serve and work to create the space for what they need to succeed in what is often a very demanding academic program. We are beginning by organizing monthly sharing support circles and held our first Pre-Exam Community Sharing Circle over lunch on November 26 in the Writing Symbols Lodge. Stay tuned for new developments, and if you are interested in donating funds to support our club activities, or in being invited to the club events, please let me know!
IndigeSTEAM holds Inaugural AGM on November 24, 2019
With the first year complete, IndigeSTEAM held the first Annual AGM on November 24, 2019. It was a successful reflection on the past year, and a discussion on next steps. Some key accomplishments for this year were:
- Successful Retreat
at the Banff Springs Hotel in April 2019
- Exciting Youth Robotics PowWow in May 2019
- Power-to-Choose, 9th Annual Indigenous STEM Camp at the University of Calgary
- Multiple Tipi (TeePee) paint nights led by Artist-In-Residence, Francis Scalplock
- Silent Auction for Dubai Fundraiser
- Incredible trip for the robotics team to Dubai in October 2019
- Global Association for Indigeneering Alliance GAIA (Indigenous/non-Indigenous STEM Network) to form Alberta AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) Professional Chapter
- Inaugural GAIA Technical Conference to be held November 2020 – dates TBD
We would like to welcome new directors to the IndigeSTEAM Board (Family). Our 2019/2020 Board will be profiled in the next newsletter.. We are excited to expand our leadership to Edmonton and look forward to growing more programming there and surrounding Nations. We send our deepest gratitude to the Elders that have supported us and continue to guide our journey. (Elder Pat Breaker, Elder Reg Crowshoe, Elder Bryan Little Chief, Rev. Vivian Seegers, Elder Pablo Russell). Membership is open to anyone that wishes to get involved in supporting Indigenous youth from K – 12 through post-secondary and beyond. This is truly an all-inclusive community.
