Tag Archives: STEMcareers

Module 4- Post 5- IMPulse, Indigenous Mentorship Program

IMPulse is a mentorship program that connects indigenous youth to university mentors in the field of STEM. This service provides 1-on-1 or group sessions which allow both mentors and mentees to develop strong relationship and build discussions around STEM. This program is FREE to join and will give youth an opportunity to get advice from the mentors to help make key decisions about their future or from choosing a university to moving away from home.

https://stemfellowship.org/impulse/

Module 4- Post 4- Equipping Indigenous Youth for STEM Careers

As there is a lack of Indigenous participants in STEM careers, fixing this problem requires changes at all levels of the education system. In order to better equip youth for future careers in STEM, high school must provide targeted services including financial aid, financial guidance, social and cultural activities, and designated spaces.

Supporting access and retention programs for Indigenous students at Canadian colleges and universities is equally important. The Engineering Access Program at the University of Manitoba, for example, has helped 134 Indigenous student engineers graduate over the past two decades. The Aboriginal Access to Engineering Initiative at Queen’s University has increased the number of Indigenous student engineers from four in 2011 to more than 50 in 2020.

These inclusive programs help improve the experience for all indigenous students to help them succeed in the long run.

https://financialpost.com/pmn/press-releases-pmn/globe-newswire-releases/high-schools-can-do-a-better-job-preparing-indigenous-students-for-stem-studies-access-and-retention-programs-for-indigenous-learners-need-to-be-supported-and-expanded

Module 4- Post 3: Success in STEM Careers

Less than 2% of the people in STEM occupations are Indigenous. The Conference Board of Canada is researching leading practices in STEM education for Indigenous learners in Canada. The Board:

  • examines the inequalities between Indigenous people and mainstream populations in STEM fields, including Indigenous perspectives on defining and measuring success
  • identifies the strategies that reflect Indigenous cultures and realities in STEM education and employment that have the potential to reach the most learners
  • explores which strategies are contributing to effective outcomes for learners, particularly from the perspective of employers, Indigenous communities, and governments
  • develops recommendations for STEM educators and funders on best practices to bridge mainstream and Indigenous world views—inside and outside the science classroom

https://www.conferenceboard.ca/research/how-can-more-indigenous-people-access-stem-careers

 

Module 4- Post 2: Successful Indigenous People in STEM

The disparity of post-secondary education (PSE) completion between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians (40% vs. 55.3%) continues to persist (Statistics Canada, 2016). However, there are several notable indigenous individuals who have been making waves in the STEM field in Canada!

https://www.sfu.ca/wwest/WWEST_blog/7-indigenous-people-in-stem-you-should-know.html

 

M1. P4.

InStem: Indigenous Youth in Stem. I came across this program a while back when I was researching Women in Stem opportunities and organizations. I quickly realized that if women are being challenged with finding opportunities in STEM careers, that Indigenous Women are probably having an even harder time.

This particular program focusses on Indigenous Youth and provide a for-CREDIT land camp where instructors integrate STEM content with land-based learning. Through this program, Indigenous Youth have been able to work towards graduation while also learning about their identity and connection to place. Furthermore, after graduation, students can come back and become instructors as their first jobs.

You can visit the program HERE – which can also be done at schools. The video below is an introduction to the InStem model.

– Sasha Passaglia