Xáadas Wendy Smythe to present “The Science in Our Stories: Connection to Place, Belonging, and Security For Native Students In STEM Education,” October 8th

“Science curriculum and western-based pedagogies within mainstream education systems do not reflect the true nature of Indigenous knowledge systems nor the deep connections Traditional knowledge systems have developed over thousands of years."

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: October 4, 2021

UAS Evening at Egan Speaker Xáadas Wendy Smythe, Ph.D. to present “The Science in Our Stories: Connection to Place, Belonging, and Security For Native Students In STEM Education,” October 8

The annual fall lecture series Evening at Egan continues this Friday, October 8 at 7 pm with a virtual presentation by Xáadas Wendy Smythe, PhD. Smythe describes her presentation:

“Water is life. A familiar phrase frequently spoken today. We exist in water throughout our lives dependent on it from conception, until our last water vapor breath. Indigenous peoples around the world maintain an intricate relationship with water. It is considered to possess beinghood, with rights. This importance is reflected in traditional ecological knowledge, passed through the generations in oral traditions as creation stories. Lessons in that hold true even today, thousands of years after they were first spoken, because our human dependence on water has not changed.

“Science curriculum and western-based pedagogies within mainstream education systems do not reflect the true nature of Indigenous knowledge systems nor the deep connections Traditional knowledge systems have developed over thousands of years. The absence of this knowledge base can inadvertently communicate a deficit-based STEM identity, which can directly impact Native youths’ participation and engagement in STEM.

“Acknowledging the importance of students’ connection to place and incorporating that connection into STEM education provides a familiar and safe space for STEM learning, builds confidence in students STEM identity, and provides historical context for Traditional Knowledge systems.”

This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic all Evening at Egan events will be offered virtually using Zoom. The full line-up of speakers, links to this year's past presentations, and registration links for upcoming presentations is currently live on the Evening at Egan website. Once registered, a link is provided to the participant. After each event, the lectures are posted to the on UAS YouTube channel.

Upcoming speakers

• October 15 - Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson, President, Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska: “The Interrelationships between Tribes, Corporations, and City, State and Federal Governments”
• October 22 - Joel Markis, Associate Professor and Program Director, Applied Fisheries: “Fisheries, Aquaculture and Mariculture in Southeast Alaska”
• October 29 - Dr. Megan Buzby, Associate Professor of Mathematics: “The `Real' World, from One Mathematician's Point of View”
• November 5 - Jason Gootee: “Health Insurance in Alaska – a look at the 2022 environment”
• November 12 - Ronalda Cadiente Brown, Associate Vice Chancellor for Alaska Native Programming and Director of the PITAAS Program: “Alaska Native Success Initiative”
• November 19 - Renee Tl'aagunk Culp, Juvenile Justice Coordinator, Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska: “I too yei yatee - It is within you: Generational Trauma & Resiliency”