FROM STARS ABOVE TO WATER BELOW:
Indigenous Stories of STEM Education for Mathematical Flourishing
May 13 and May 20, 2025 (Virtual)
The skies hold stories, the Elders say. Looking up, maybe you’ve experienced the Northern Lights as Spirits dancing across the winter sky? Or perhaps you’ve seen the Northern Lights as “Ancestors Checking In” as painted by Haida artist Billy Yovanovich? Across cultures and millennia humans have looked to the skies, stars, moon and sun for spiritual connection, guidance on living a good life, and direction for navigating across time and place.
Indigenous astronomy offers stories, not of a static sky, but one full of multiple dimensions that help guide relationships between humans and more-than-human worlds. It binds water, stars, land, humans and more-than-humans with the cycles of sky movements and rhythms of the celestial sky. And all of this is linked to practices of living well with each other and Earth.
This year’s theme – From Stars Above to Water Below: Indigenous Stories of STEM Education for Mathematical Flourishing – embraces connections between Indigenous astronomy, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education, water as life-worlds, and Indigenous stories.
Session 1: Indigenous Astronomy, Water Science, and STEM Curriculum to Inspire Youth – Dr. Shandin Pete
May 13, 2025; 3:30-5:00 pm PT (Virtual)
Our Keynote Speaker is Dr. Shandin Pete from Nłq̓alqʷ (“Place of the thick trees”, Arlee, Montana). Shandin is of the Bitterroot Band of Salish in Montana and Diné from Beshbihtoh Valley in Arizona. An Assistant Professor of Teaching in UBC’s Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Shandin is also a hydro-geologist and science educator interested in Indigenous astronomy, culturally responsive education, and Indigenous science philosophies.
Shandin is currently designing curriculum grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and philosophies of science in UBC’s Faculty of Science. He is working to create an inaugural First Salmon Ceremony at UBC creating opportunities for inter-cultural learning for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Dr. Shandin Pete’s presentation and follow-up discussion will prepare us for the May 20th Session 2 Igniting the Sparkle Circle Sharing Sessions and the importance of reciprocity for sharing our work together.
Session 2: Igniting the Sparkle Sharing
May 20, 2025; 3:30-5:00 pm PT (Virtual)
Educators share their projects. In Session 2 educators share ideas, projects, activities, questions – all related to what we are trying in our teaching practice bringing Indigenous pedagogies and ways of knowing together with math education. Sharing is not required for attending, but if you’d like to share please indicate your interest when registering. We each have ideas and gifts to offer!
Registration Now Open
Registration $25.00+ tax includes attending both Session 1 and Session 2. Limited free registration for teacher education and graduate students.
