"We are Stardust”

A Collaborative Research Project between Native Skywatchers and Starry, Starry Night

This project lives at the intersection of Science-Art-Culture - Led by Annette S. Lee in collaboration with Raja (Puragra) GuhaThakurta

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) Building on the existing Native Skywatchers research and programming initiative in a unique merger with the Starry, Starry Night program, the idea is to give students and educators a unique opportunity for authentic involvement in science and also to weave cultural relevance equally into the experience to produce the highest level of engagement, excitement, and meaning for all involved. This project is a multidisciplinary approach to Art as Social Practice and Science Communication for the benefit of all.

* Starry, Starry Night, an initiative that gives students and teachers access to real-time observations with the Keck 10-m telescope on Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai`i and the Lick Observatory’s Shane 3-m telescope on Mount Hamilton in California. Think of this as ‘Eavesdropping on a Observing Session’. 

Mauna Kea Observatories, By Leijurv, CC BY-SA 4.0

Lick Observatory, By Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 2.5

* Native Skywatchers, an Indigenous Star Knowledge revitilization initiative (since 2007) gives students and teachers access to real-time research and resources in Indigenous Astronomy, STEM Education, Culture, and Art. Get ready to become a producer. You are a ‘Digital Storyteller’. 

We bring together Western and Indigenous science in the context of the theme, “We are Star Dust”, to inspire curiosity, to ignite motivation, and to create a supportive learning space so we can tell our story of relationship to sky.  Einstein himself said “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”.

"We are Stardust" - SUMMER 2021 - Educator Co-Creating Cohort

Led by Annette S. Lee, in collaboration with Raja (Puragra) GuhaThakurta, Marie Lovejoy, and Teti Dragas ...a co-learning community of talented and highly motivated Indigenous Educators and Ally Educators. Participants from the U.S., Mexico, and Taiwan.

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Milagros Varguez. 

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Elaine O. Hardwick. 

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Carmen Gavin Venegas. 

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Rhea O'Shion. 

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Shu-an Hsu. 

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Melissa K. Nelson. 

"We are Stardust" - SUMMER 2021 Cohort - Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Led by Annette S. Lee, in collaboration with Raja (Puragra) GuhaThakurta, Marie Lovejoy, and Teti Dragas ...a co-learning community of talented and highly motivated high school students. Participants from the U.S., India, and Zimbabwe.

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Ruvarashe Moyo. 

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Viviana Nelson. 

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Esha Parakh. 

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Shefali Sahai. 

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Grace Li. 

We are Stardust-Summer 2021

Original production by Anika Dileep. 

Livestream Recording - We are Stardust-Summer SIP - 2021

Original video productions by outstanding high school scholars and artists. Participants from U.S., India, and Zimbabwe. 

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"We are Stardust" - Spring Cohort 2021 - South High School, Minneapolis, Minnesota

South High School Cohort led by Ms. Kate Rosok (Astronomy), Ms. Nancy Nair (Dance), Ms. Delainia Haug (English), Ms. Macy Ashby (Social Studies), Mr. Marcus Aponte (All Nations Staff) in collaboration with Annette S. Lee

We are Stardust-Spring 2021

A Team of three High School Students from South High in Minneapolis, Minnesota explore the stars through PJ Observing at the Keck II Telescope on Mauna Kea; the culture of dance; and their own personal story through spoken word art & dance. Created, Directed, and Produced by: Dmitri Nair, Andrew Njogu, and Esli Martinez 

We are Stardust-Spring 2021

A High School Student from South High in Minneapolis, Minnesota explore the stars through PJ Observing at the Keck II Telescope on Mauna Kea; the culture of dance; and their own personal story of movement, light, & dance. Created, Directed, and Produced by: Izzy Spiess 

We are Stardust-Spring 2021

A Team of two High School Students from South High in Minneapolis, Minnesota explore the stars through PJ Observing at the Keck II Telescope on Mauna Kea; the culture of dance; and their own personal story through spoken word art & dance. Created, Directed, and Produced by: B. Trenou and Aisha Abdullah  

We are Stardust-Spring 2021

Bonus Content. A Conversation with the Expert/Interview the Expert - What is the intersectionality between dance and the stars?.... How do you feel about learning that we are stardust... Dance as Culture, How dance relates to the Stars, and Why dance is critically important ....South High School Dance Instructor - Ms. Nancy Nair talks with South High School Student student, Esli Martinez... beautiful insights abound! (18:07) 

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"We are Stardust" - Spring 2021 Cohort - Elementary and Middle School

Led by Annette S. Lee and Tavia La Follette

We are Stardust-Spring 2021

An Elementary/Middle School Participant explores the stars through PJ Observing at Lick Observatory, Cultural teachings of the stars through an Interview with an Ojibwe Elder, and their own personal story through an original painting. 

We are Stardust-Spring 2021

Another Elementary/Middle School Participant explores the stars through PJ Observing at Lick Observatory, Cultural teachings of the stars through an Interview with an Ojibwe Elder, and their own personal story through an original painting. 

We are Stardust-Spring 2021

An Elementary/Middle School Participant explores the stars through PJ Observing at Lick Observatory; Metaphor, Imagination and Light through an Interview with a Professor of Theatre Arts; and their own story through shadow puppets. 

We are Stardust-Spring 2021

An Elementary/Middle School Participant explores the stars through PJ Observing at Lick Observatory; an Interview with a Rocket maker and the story of Hydra-the water snake; and their own personal story through animation and a flight simulator program. 

“Native Skywatchers - Starry, Starry Nights - PJ Observing: A Collaboration Between a Grass-Roots, Indigenous Community Based Organization and a Major Research Institution”

This project was presented at the International Astronomical Union - Communicating Astronomy with the Public (IAU-CAP) conference May 2021, “Native Skywatchers - Starry, Starry Nights - PJ Observing: A Collaboration Between a Grass-Roots, Indigenous Community Based Organization and a Major Research Institution” 
Abstract | Publication (in press)

We are Stardust-Spring 2021

"We are Stardust", Recording of Presentation - Project Highlights (10:10), led by Annette S. Lee, in collaboration with Puragra Guhathakurta, Kate Rosok, Tavia La Follette, presentation at the International Astronomical Union - Communicating Astronomy with the Public (IAU-CAP) conference May 2021, “Native Skywatchers - Starry, Starry Nights - PJ Observing: A Collaboration Between a Grass-Roots, Indigenous Community Based Organization and a Major Research Institution” 

We are Stardust-Spring 2021

This project brings together Western and Indigenous science in the context of the theme, “We are Star Dust”, to inspire curiosity, to ignite motivation, and to create a supportive learning space so we can tell our story of relationship to sky.

This project is a multidisciplinary approach to Art as Social Practice and Science Communication for the benefit of all.

Email: nativeskywatchers@gmail.com for more info 

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