A science fair was held at the Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre on Friday, marking the first time ever that the Yorkton Tribal Council hosted a multiple community science fair.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations executive committee applauds the groundbreaking effort by the tribal council, teachers and students, said a release from FSIN communications.
The science fair was organized by Mary-Ann Ketchemonia, a teacher at Keeseekoose who was also the emcee of the program. Participating were students from Keeseekoose, Cote, Ocean Man and Ochapowace First Nations, while students of the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute attended as observers.
The program began with a selection performed by the Crowe Singers Drug Group of Keeseekoose and a prayer by elder Stella Ketchemonia.
Richard Fiddler, principal of Keeseekoose Chiefs, reminded the audience that First Nation people had a refined understanding of science, having understood and followed the migration of animals for thousands of years.
“They had respect for nature, and took only what they needed,” Fiddler said. “They are the original environmentalists.”
Fiddler said that now that literacy and mathematics are well understood, the next focus is science.
He welcomed the students, commended Mary-Ann Ketchemonia for her work in organizing the science fair and stressed the importance of education. He said many graduates of Keeseekoose have gone ton to become teachers, business people, board members, lawyers, court officers and scientists.
“Education is the key to becoming productive adults and meaningful careers in science, from medicine to astronomy,” he said, adding that it was good to see the youth growing up and finding fields that in previous years would have been unheard of.
Rhonda Tide led her Grade 1 class in reciting poems about polar bears and penguins.
Felix Wapash, junior chief of the school, thanked everyone for attending and the sponsors and welcomed everyone to the event.
“This is a big day for Keeseekoose,” said Chief Lyndon Musqua, who talked about his time attending the Fort Livingstone School in Pelly where his science project involved testing two brand names of diapers to determine which was the better.
Musqua said that he was seeing some amazing science displays and said he was happy to see representatives of several communities attending because that shows respect among communities.
Proportionally, Keeseekoose has more students enrolled in post-secondary institutions than any other First Nation in Saskatchewan, Musqua said, adding that he is proud of the school, teachers and parents.
Katherine Trebish of Yorkton, a consultant with YTC, said that it was “cool” to celebrate First Nation science and told the students that being called a “science nerd” is an awesome thing because science nerds are the people who will grow up to make changes, become leaders and doctors.
Kianna Kakakaway, a Grade 8/9 student, thanked the YTC for supporting the fair and welcomed everyone attending.
Jesse Bazzul, Mike McCoy and John MacDonald, who are members of the University of Regina education faculty, attended the fair with seven student teachers, to evaluate the science displays.
Bazzul said he was honoured to have been invited and that he hoped this event was the beginning of a long partnership with the YTC and the beginning of great things to come.
It was announced that the top two science displays from each of the schools participating would qualify to advance to the FSIN Science Fair being held in Saskatoon March 20 and 21. The winners of that fair are to advance to the Canadian Science Fair.
“It is vital for our youth to complete their education in the area of science and technologies, FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said in a release. “Education is the key to building healthier people and communities.
“The FSIN is proud of our young people as they apply their inherent and treaty right to education embarking on meaningful careers.”
“We want to encourage our young ones to develop an interest in science and technology because it will help position them for the job market of the future,” Chief Musqua said. “We already have a great demand in our First Nations communities for people in health sciences, and that demand will only increase as our population grows.”
The FSIN Education and Training Secretariat helps to organize an average of 20 science fairs a year at First Nation schools culminating with the annual Saskatchewan First Nations Science Fair in March, the release said.
The FSIN represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. The Federation is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of the treaties, as well as the promotion, protection and implementation of the treaty promises that were made more than a century ago
