At this Aki Kikinomakaywin camp, Indigenous youth in northern Ontario get land-based science training | 24CA News

Indigenous youth gathered this week at Lakehead University and Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ont., in a particular camp centred on Aki Kikinomakaywin — Ojibway for “learning on the land.”

Seventeen younger individuals aged 12 to 16 got here from First Nations throughout northern Ontario to take part within the second 12 months of this system that started July 16. The actions included conducting stream assessments via Indigenous methods of figuring out, mixed with Western science.

A giant objective of the camp is to show STEAM (science, expertise, engineering, arts and arithmetic) by means of land-based, hands-on actions, and to encourage youth to wish to pursue post-secondary schooling.

Water is life, and with out water there could be no life. So [the youth] have to be taught the cultural facet of how one can defend and take care of the water, not just for our era, however future generations.– Sheila DeCorte, data keeper

For Nicholas Cada, who’s from Mississauga First Nation, the camp helped him be taught rather a lot about his neighborhood and other people. Nicholas, 16, mentioned he might even pursue a profession in pharmacy.

“The most interesting thing [I’ve learned is] probably the nature or the medicine walk we went on recently,” mentioned Nicholas.

“Going out into the wild and just looking at different medicines that we use that are still common in pharmaceutical areas, that are just completely natural, is really cool to me.”

Combining methods of figuring out

The camp covers the price of meals and lodging for the youth, together with a constitution departing from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., to get to Thunder Bay

Lydia Johnson, mission lead for Aki Kikinomakaywin, mentioned this 12 months’s camp was months within the making.

“To be here and be with the kids has been amazing, and I think, as you can see, everyone’s having a really good time,” she mentioned.

Johnson mentioned leaders work to root the camp in Indigenous tradition, tales and teachings.

“We also are attempting to do a two-eyed seeing approach where we weave together Indigenous and Western ways of knowing,” she mentioned. “So you’ll see through a lot of our activities that we try to bring both of those ways of knowing in.”

One of the targets of Aki Kikinomakaywin is to get Indigenous adolescents enthusiastic about post-secondary schooling, via a novel educating technique.

“Being able to show that we can do science, and we can use our culture and use our teachings, and do those things in tandem I think is so important,” mentioned Johnson. “And hopefully we’ll start bringing a bunch more youth into post-secondary, and also connected youth, into post-secondary.”

Protecting and caring for all dwelling issues

Sheila DeCorte, from Anemki Wajiw, is without doubt one of the data keepers at Aki Kikinomakaywin.

DeCorte mentioned it is vital for the campers to be taught in regards to the significance of water.

“Water is life, and without water there would be no life,” mentioned DeCorte. “So [the youth] need to learn the cultural side of how to protect and care for the water, not only for our generation, but future generations.”

Kayden Cherneske, 14, a camper from the Ojibway First Nation of Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg, collected a water pattern to do a stream evaluation, so as to perceive the impacts of land use on water. He mentioned testing on a number of samples will assist him be taught if the water is protected to drink.

Dillon Koopmans, senior supervisor of schooling at Water First Education & Training Inc., taught Aki Kikinomakaywin campers how one can carry out a stream evaluation of the river connecting to Lake Tamblyn at Lakehead University.

Koopmans mentioned it is vital to recollect the objective is to assist, heal and defend the water when doing work on it.

DeCorte mentioned it is the duty of Indigenous youth to guard and take care of all dwelling issues.

“If they want to go into the Western science of water, then they’re going to need to also be aware of the cultural side of things, so that they’re remembering to honour and respect Mother Earth — remember to honour and respect the water itself, because it is a living entity, and to respect all beings here on Mother Earth.”

DeCorte added it is hoped college students gaining data from Aki Kikinomakaywin will wish to pursue a profession in Western science.

“Or maybe they’ll become a knowledge keeper in the opposite side of things. But even if the ones that aren’t as engaged, even if they retain one thing all week, then that’ll be positive too.”

Bringing data again to communities

Nicholas mentioned he plans to deliver what he is realized on the camp again to his neighborhood.

“I know that back where I’m from, we have not so much medical attention. So it’s going to be good to go out there and maybe offer some traditional alternatives for popular medicines.”

Another camper, Kiaya Nowegijick of the Ojibway First Nations of Gull Bay and Webequie, mentioned she has an curiosity in medicines and tales, and appreciated how the Aki Kikinomakaywin leaders performed the teachings, “how they learn how to live on the land and medicines, and just culture stuff, to reconnect with their culture.” 

Kiaya, 15, additionally hopes to share what she realized with her neighborhood to allow them to develop collectively.

“Even before this, I wanted to be an Indigenous advocate for my community, and to fight for our rights and fight for our land back.”