Our world needs STEM, and STEM needs Indigenous perspectives.
Indigenous Peoples have always been scientists—with long histories of observing ecosystems, using engineering to build sustainable tools and homes, and applying mathematics to navigation and art. Promoting Indigenous perspectives in STEM helps develop deeper insights into sustainability, land stewardship, and community-based innovation. Equally important, it empowers Indigenous youth to pursue STEM education and careers while honouring their culture and identity. And to go one step further: when we weave together Indigenous knowledge with Western perspectives, we open the door to innovation and novel solutions to some of the big and thorny problems of the 21st century.
One of the leading national STEM education charitable organizations – Let’s Talk Science – has a strong history of collaborating with Indigenous communities to ensure all youth have access to engaging and applicable STEM resources. By co-creating culturally relevant STEM activities, they seek to promote student confidence and STEM literacy among youth—something of vital importance in a rapidly changing world. Since the 1990s, the organization has worked to address the unique needs of Indigenous youth and communities through outreach, partnerships, and the integration of Indigenous Ways of Knowing into its programming. Together, these initiatives are helping ensure Indigenous youth can access meaningful, culturally grounded pathways into STEM.
To further advance its effort in bringing impactful STEM learning to Indigenous youth, Let’s Talk Science recently welcomed Dr. Deborah Saucier as its inaugural Director, Indigenous Initiatives. In this new role, Dr. Saucier will amplify the organization’s decades‑long commitment to delivering high‑quality, hands‑on STEM learning for Indigenous youth across Canada, and will develop new relationships with Indigenous schools, organizations, and communities.
“I’m thrilled to be part of such an important initiative,” says Dr. Saucier. “As an educator, I’ve seen how fun, relevant STEM activities can shape young people’s futures. When youth see themselves reflected in these experiences—and when those experiences are free—it keeps vital pathways open for Indigenous learners.”
One of Dr. Saucier’s priorities will be to support the organization’s partnership with the First Nations Education Administrators Association (FNEAA). FNEAA brings together education leaders from across the country to advance First Nations-led education. FNEAA’s 2026 conference shone a spotlight on Indigenous science and celebrated the work of Indigenous scientists, Knowledge Keepers, and educators. This collaboration will aim to boost awareness and accessibility of STEM programming that supports the next generation of Knowledge Keepers, Land and Water Guardians, and educators.
Outreach is a valuable channel for placing STEM role models directly into communities. Over the past few years, Let’s Talk Science volunteers have travelled to various Indigenous communities, resulting in over 58,700 interactions with Indigenous youth last year alone. These interactions help foster curiosity, confidence, and long‑term engagement in STEM fields among young learners.
STEM outreach continues to have positive impact on Indigenous communities. One such example is the decade-long relationship between the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, Let’s Talk Science, and several remote Indigenous communities including the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation, the Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne, and, most recently, Moose Factory. As part of this Indigenous Mentorship Program, students develop a research fair project to present at a multi-day visit to Ottawa each year, connecting STEM and Indigenous ways of knowing. Let’s Talk Science volunteers visit each community to support the development of these projects and to bring hands-on workshops that illustrate scientific and design principles.
Robert (a participant of the program), a student from Moose Cree First Nation, liked how relevant the activities brought by the volunteers were to what they were learning in his Outdoor Education class: “After explaining the spring trap method that the Cree people use to capture snowshoe hares, the volunteers designed their own contraption with counterweights which we ended up testing out in the bush. I later created a presentation which compared the two methods, which of course pointed out that the Cree method was better for many reasons.”
Taking Indigenous knowledge back to all Canadian students is an essential step toward Reconciliation. National programming, developed under the advisement of Elders and Knowledge Keepers plays a crucial role in supporting STEM learning for all students. LIVE STEM broadcasts for example, have allowed teachers and their students to virtually journey inside Indigenous communities and learn about the interconnectedness of all things from a respected culture teacher.
Similarly, STEM Storytime hours can help introduce young students to Indigenous authors and stories. Integrating Indigenous perspectives across programming allows both teachers and students from all backgrounds to take innovative STEM-based approaches to solve big problems with thoughtfulness and care.
Continuing to deepen its relationships with Indigenous communities, the impact of work by Let’s Talk Science grows stronger each year. By listening, learning, and co-creating with educators, Elders, and youth, the organization is helping build a future that weaves together Indigenous knowledge and Western STEM approaches so that they may support and complement one another. These efforts are not only expanding opportunities for Indigenous students but also enriching STEM education across Canada for all youth, giving them the tools they need to address complex challenges with creativity, innovation, and respect.
THE AUTHORS:
Gray Brogden, Marketing Communications Coordinator, Let’s Talk Science and Deb Saucier, Director Indigenous Initiatives, Let’s Talk Science
