"We are Stardust - Identity and Light”

A Native Skywatchers Collaborative Research Project

This project lives at the intersection of Science-Art-Culture - Team members include: Carmen Gavin Venegas, Science instructor,Nancy Nair, Dance instructor, Kate Rosok, Science instructor, Ramona Kitto Stately-We are Still Here, Minnesota, Dakota & MN Indian Ed Assoc, Nichole Subola, Lakota elder in collaboration with Annette S. Lee.

As described by Mi’kmaw elders: Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing is learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western knowledges and ways of knowing, and to use both these eyes for the benefit of all. (Bartlett, Marshall and Marshall 2012, 336)

Native Skywatchers engaged Indigenous students of the All Nations program in experiential learning at sacred sites, like Bdote; in science field trips, exoplanet research, making ribbon shirt hoddies, and creating collaborative celestial design performance art, like Kapemni Dance! Three lives performances ran this winter/spring at South High School auditorium, the Glass House venue in Minneapolis, and the Bell Museum of Science in St. Paul.

"Impromptu Round Dance, South High School, Mpls., MN"

"Spectra class, South High School, Mpls., MN"

South High School, is in Minneapolis on Dakota land. It is a four-year comprehensive public high school in the Corcoran neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. A member of the Minneapolis Public Schools district, it is Minneapolis's oldest (founded in 1885)and largest (1,739 students & 107 faculty) public high school . South is distinguished for its exemplary academic programs, dynamic theater and music productions, studies in engineering, visual arts and world languages! "We embrace all students and are proud of our diversity"  The All Nations Program:  is a district-wide urban high school magnet program serving ~100 Indigenous students. The Dance program is an arts elective program serving ~90 students per semester from beginning to advanced.   

"Rehearsal, South High School, Mpls., MN"

"C. Gavin Vanegas, Chem., Physics, Bio. & Physical Science Teacher, All Nations Program, South High, Mpls., MN"