Western News recently featured an article on the Learning with Head and Heart program, which pairs Indigenous undergraduate students with faculty supervisors to conduct research merging academic and Indigenous methods of understanding. The article drew attention to participant, Natalie Hill, and her work with Physics & Astronomy professor, Robert Cockcroft, who had the following to say about the experience:

“Natalie already had expertise making wampum belts so when she began working with me last summer she was inspired to incorporate astronomy into a new wampum belt.  She saw the Cayuga Celestial Bear story about a magical bear being chased by hunters – a story that can be seen by the motion of the stars in the sky only at a certain time of the year and from specific locations and signifies the start of the hunting season to the Cayuga.  The story incorporated what some would call the Big Dipper so that is what Natalie included in the story.  I really appreciated learning from Natalie and seeing her blend this pattern of stars (that many people will be familiar with) into the wampum belt.  The wampum is significant in storytelling and recording treaties and historical events, so Natalie’s work is especially meaningful as we try to decolonize academia.”

Read the full Western news article.

Learn more about the Learning With Head and Heart Program.

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