
Photo taken pre-COVID.
Cape Breton University Senior Lab Instructor,Chantelle Cormier,ishoping to introducethe guiding principle of Two-Eyed Seeingdeveloped by Elder Albert Marshallinto Cape Breton classrooms,throughaLet’s Talk ScienceprojectusingIndigenous and Western Knowledge Systems.The project, entitledѾ’kNight Sky Stories,willdevelop 12integrativesciencekits based onlessonscontainedwithin theѾ’kCalendar,to complement previously developed activities around theѾ’kconstellation storyMuinand the Seven Bird Hunters.The project wasrecentlyawarded funding through the (NSERC), through itsPromoSciencedivision.
“The story ofMuin and the Seven Bird Huntersis part of a rich oralhistory, passed from generation to generation. Itreveals teachings about cultural importance, astronomy and phenology,” Chantelle explains.Phenology is the study of seasonal changes in plants and animals, and the relationship between these events to weather and climate.
In 2009, the CBU Integrative Science Research Team rekindled thisѾ’kSky Story using the guiding principle of Two-EyedSeeingfor the International Year of Astronomy. The team included Elders Albert andMurdenaMarshall ofEskasoniand Elder Lillian Marshall ofPotlotek.“Thistraditional story links the annual cycle of the seasons as observed bytheMi’kmawwith the movement of stars about the Northern Celestial pole,”saysChantelle,“It demonstrates theѾ’kunderstanding that everything that happens in the sky is connected with what takes place on Earth, or that patterns on Earth are reflected in the patterns in the sky.”
ThePromoScienceproject will developcomplementary integrative science kitsthatwill be hands-on/minds-on kits modelled after the Let’s Talk Science kits. They will be developed for elementary students,andmaterialswillbe developedin English, French and Mi’kmaq languages.AnIndigenous Science Outreach Coordinatorwill be hired to develop the kits, organize classroom visits and lead professional development opportunities for local school boards. CBU students will also be invited to volunteer with outreach activities.
“Using Two-Eyed Seeing as our guiding principle, this project will bring together Indigenous and Western Knowledge Systems to provide Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth the opportunity to come together in a respectful, reciprocal and responsible way to engage with each other, fostering reconciliationand understandingin the classroom while at the same time inspiring a mutual interest in science,” says Chantelle.
Congratulations to ChantelleCormierfor continued success in science outreach!