The Institute of Atmospheric Sciences (IAS) at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, in collaboration with Sinte Gleska University (SGU) in Mission, and Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), recently held four 5-day geoscience camps for middle and high school Native American students. The NSF Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences (OEDG) program, which funded the camps, is designed to address the underrepresentation of primarily Native Americans and Alaskan Natives, and increase their participation in the geosciences.
The goal of the He Sapa project was to utilize a traditional native framework of intergenerational teaching to increase awareness of the importance of geosciences education. Students were encouraged to invite a parent or adult relative to accompany them. It is believed that this intergenerational teaching method allows Native American participants to feel more accepted and encouraged. This approach inspired one of the adults to enroll in a higher education program. The project also motivated participants to become active in land and resources protection at the tribal and state levels.
The curriculum was designed to integrate Lakota cultural interpretations of nature with contemporary western science. Field trip locations were selected for both their scientific and their cultural significance. The participants traveled to nine sites: Bear Butte, Devils Tower, Harney Peak, Vore Buffalo Jump, the Badlands, Wind Cave, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Reynolds Prairie.
Participation included on-site geoscience research experiences, field exploration and data collection. Students took part in the following projects: assembling a science field kit, putting together a PowerPoint presentation of pictures of camp field trips and activities, completing a questionnaire about Lakota culture, preparing field assessments and drawings, measuring light reflectance on various surfaces using a hand-held reflectance spectrometer and collecting and interpreting meteorological data for three sites in the Black Hills.
School of Mines Presentations included:
- The Great Race Track (Black Hills Formation) and Western Geosciences - James Sanovia (M.S. geology, Rapid City) in collaboration with Dr. Larry Stetler, associate professor, geology
- Star Lab - Thomas Durkin, deputy director, South Dakota Space Grant Consortium
- Hi Resolution Infrared Spectrometer - Dr. Edward Duke, director, Engineering and Mining Experiment Station
- Hand-held spectrometer - Dr. Donna Kliche, IAS acting associate director and research scientist
- Clouds and Models - Richard Farley, IAS research scientist
- Science and Fires - Dr. Randall Benson, South Dakota Fire Meteorologist and Darren Clabo (M.S. atmospheric sciences, Brainerd, Minn.)
Sinte Gleska University Presentations included:
- Traditional Lakota Geosciences - Duane Hollow Horn Bear, faculty, and Victor Douville, dean, Lakota History and Cultural Studies, SGU
- Botany in Lakota Culture - Ione Quigley, chair, Lakota History and Cultural Studies, SGU
- Lakota Star Knowledge- Victor Douville, SGU
Applied science experiments were coordinated by Kelly Lane, a retired teacher from Rapid City.
At the end of the camps, the students were invited to start working on science projects of their choice for the coming High Plains Regional Science Fair held on the School of Mines campus in March 2009. Faculty and researchers involved with He Sapa are offering to advise and mentor the students. The goal is to have participants develop science projects that qualify for the National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair hosted by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society in Saint Paul, Minn. in March 2009.
