One Sky, Two Views - A Space Science Program for Outreach to Native Americans
- Paper number
IAC-07-E1.4.03
- Author
Ms. Rosalyn Pertzborn, Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Sanjay Limaye, University of Wisconsin, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The “One Sky; Two Views” Program was developed by the Office of Space Science Education at the University of Wisconsin’s Space Science and Engineering Center to identify effective strategies for engaging more Native American youth in the space sciences. It is a generalization, but perhaps not a gross one, to say that Native Americans are suspicious of western science. For five centuries scientists have made scholarly pronouncements about their origins, behaviors, and belief systems. These pronouncements often have demeaned Native Origin stories and explanations of the natural world, relegating them to the realm of superstition. Forced assimilation (1867-1934) in which thousands of Native children were taken from their communities, placed in boarding schools, and taught to reject traditional teachings, only deepened the mistrust that many Native people have for mainstream education. In short, exchanges between academics and Native people have frequently been extractive and patronizing. However, there have been academics who have successfully worked with Native communities. These productive exchanges have been those in which scholars have, 1) collaborated with Indigenous knowledge holders, 2) taken time to understand and build community trust, and 3) shared the fruits of their efforts with Indigenous communities. Over the past several years, “One Sky, Two Views” has successfully adopted an approach that takes culture into account and achieves its goals by active involvement and participation of Native Americans throughout the entire program. Our effort has involved three main tasks: (i) Implementing a Visiting Scientist program for Native American Schools in the Upper Midwest, (ii) hosting a Cross-cultural, (Native American and Space Science) conference at a Reservation, and (iii) developing a book suitable for middle school Native American students as well as the broader community of learners. We will present the proven methods and formats utilized to accomplish our program goals/objectives with suggestions for successfully engaging historically underserved communities around the world.
- Abstract document