Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science
The Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) is a biography project which highlights Chicano/Latino and Native American Scientists, Mathematicians, and Engineers. The biographies are browsable by identity, subject, and scientist's name.
X̱wi7x̱wa Library Guide
Science
“Science provides opportunities for us to better understand our natural world. Through science we ask questions and seek answers to grow our collective scientific knowledge. We continually revise and refine our knowledge as we acquire new evidence. Building on a foundation of respect for evidence, we are aware that our scientific knowledge is provisional and culturally-derived. Linking traditional and contemporary Aboriginal understandings and current scientific knowledge enables us to make meaningful connections to our culture, society, and everyday lives.
The curriculum takes a place-based approach. Students will develop place-based knowledge about the area in which they live, learning about and building on Aboriginal knowledge and other traditional knowledge of the area. This provides a basis for an intuitive relationship with and respect for the natural world, connections to their ecosystem and community and a sense of relatedness that would encourage lifelong harmony with nature.” (From BC Curriculum, Aboriginal Education).
Featured Resources
Elementary Education
- Aboriginal Access to Engineering: Kids (Queen's University)
Features online learning modules, lesson plans, educational games, and more. - Science Education Resources: Sealaska Heritage (Middle School)
This program is designed to develop the language of science for Indigenous students in Alaska. The ten units in the program include motivating activities to help the students retain the key vocabulary. The program is based on the Developmental Language Process. - Aboriginal Content across the Elementary Curriculum: Science
Extensive list of resources which educators can use in the classroom. Curated by School District 73 (Kamloops/Thompson). - Coyote ScienceCoyote’s Crazy Smart Science Show is an adventures-in-science series that encourages youth to explore the fascinating world of science – from an Indigenous perspective.
Secondary Education
- Aboriginal Access to Engineering: Youth (Queen's University)Features online learning modules, lesson plans, educational games, and more.
- Science First Peoples Teacher Resource Guide (FNESC)
Grades 5 - 9. "Provides educators with resources to support increased integration of the rich body of First Peoples (unappropriated) knowledge and perspectives into classrooms and schools in BC." Recognizing that the wealth of First Peoples’ science knowledge is held by communities, this guide is intended as a starting place for educators. It should be used in conjunction with locally based resources that are developed by, or in collaboration with, local communities. - Aboriginal Access to Engineering: Youth
Engineering focus. Resource aimed at increasing the number of Aboriginal engineers, featuring online learning modules, lesson plans, educational games, and more. - Science Education Resources: Sealaska Heritage (High School)This program is designed to develop the language of science for Indigenous students in Alaska. The ten units in the program include motivating activities to help the students retain the key vocabulary. The program is based on the Developmental Language Process.
- Two Ways of Knowing, Traditional Ecological Knowledge Meets Western Science
Veronica Ignas. Forests for the Future, Unit 1. Science & Traditional Ecological Knowledge for Grade 11. - Rekindling Traditions: Cross-Cultural Science and Technology Units
This resource, developed by six Indigenous teachers, features modular units designed to blend Indigenous ways of knowing with Western science curricula. - Science First Peoples Teacher Resource Guide (2019) (FNESC)Builds on the FNESC's earlier guide for grades 5-9 by offering content specifically for grades 10-12. The guide provides curriculum planning suggestions, and examples of fully developed units that correspond with the Big Ideas and Learning Standards in the BC Provincial Science Curriculum.
Natural Resource Use, Protection, and Ecology
- "Relearning the Star Stories of Indigenous Peoples" by Christie TaylorThis multimedia article contains stories about the stars from Indigenous communities across Manitoba and talks about how to connect science and culture for young Indigenous people. Produced by Science Friday, a registered charity dedicated to science education.
- First Nations in Sustainability Careers Profiles on YouTubeThese video testimonials are a compilation of various First Nations post-secondary graduates doing a variety of careers in fisheries, forestry, community planning and firefighting.
- Forests of the Future (UBC)Lesson plans related to Traditional Ecological Knowledge, resource use, and Aboriginal involvement in the forestry sector.
- Global Environmental Justice CollectionDocumentaries in this collection that may be of interest: Tar Creek, Yindabad, Homeland, People of a Feather, and Arrows Against the Wind.
- The Great Bear Sea Educational CurriculumThe Exploring the Great Bear Sea Elementary, Secondary and Post-Secondary Curriculum Resources are based on the film The Great Bear Sea: Reflecting on the Past, Planning for the Future by Green Fire Productions, and can be used to engage students in an inquiry-based, educational journey through the Great Bear Sea.
- Our Journeys: First Nations Natural Resources Careers (ForEd BC)Profiles First Nations people working in fields related to natural resources.
- Protecting Natural and Cultural Areas in the Northwest Territories (Government of Northwest Territories)Lessons and activities related to the protection of land, marine environments, and watersheds in the Northwest Territories. Grades 10-12.
- Voices of the Canoe (Museum of Anthropology)Builds understanding of the importance of canoes for the Fijian, Squamish, and Haida peoples in relation to natural resources.
- Working Together to Protect the Land (Government of Northwest Territories)Unit focused on the land resource use and protection, developed by the North West Territories Protected Area Strategy. Grade 7.
- Arctic Eider Society Educational ResourcesThe Arctic Eider Society has created a series of educational science videos for educators and parents, including lesson plans and activities. These videos break down how the AES conducts research in a collaborative way which supports the environment, and their communities.
Subject Headings
Subject headings are a tool designed to help researchers find similar materials. These are only some examples of the many subject headings that X̱wi7x̱wa Library uses. Spend a few minutes exploring them when you find a book in the catalogue that supports your research.
Browse Catalogue > Subject begins with:
- First Nations--Science--Study and teaching.
- First Nations –Science--Curriculum materials.
- Indians of North America--Science education.
- First Nations--Science--Curriculum development.
- First Nations--Ecology--Curricula.
- First Nations--Natural resources--Curricula.
For more subject headings, see the Books & Media page of this guide.