Welcome to another riveting episode of the Meet The Onôtinikêwak (Warriors) Podcast, hosted by Michael LaRocque. In this episode, we're honored to sit down with Kori Czuy—a keystone in the world of Indigenous education and science. Kori, who holds a PhD in Indigenous mathematics, is the Manager of Indigenous Science Connections at the Spark Science Center in Calgary. She has dedicated her life to bridging the divide between Indigenous knowledge and global science, largely focusing on the amalgamation of mathematics and Indigenous culture.

In our conversation, we delve into Kori's fascinating work at the Science Center. She shares the nuances of overseeing Indigenous science exhibits and educational programming and her mission to make STEM fields more accessible for Indigenous youth.

The essence of Indigenous wisdom, spanned over thousands of years, and its manifold connections to astronomical phenomena are beautifully highlighted as we discuss the Blackfoot sky story. We explore the science behind this mesmerizing tale, how the wolves in the story represent Sagittarius, a star that is the black hole at the center of our galaxy.

Listen as Kori shares about her compelling journey, from her upbringing in Canmore with Cree Métis and Ukrainian Polish roots, to acquiring her PhD and the challenges she faced along the way in getting Indigenous perspectives and ethics recognized. She speaks passionately about the important elders Casey and Hal, and many other influential individuals from diverse Indigenous communities who have guided and supported her.

More than just equations and theorems, we discuss "math's truth" – how it's framed and consumed and the problematic nature of it being perceived as neutral and detached from culture. Engrossing examples of complicated math problems and the commodification of knowledge stolen from Indigenous communities will pique your interest.

This episode brims with vital discussions on the importance of subjective cultural ways of knowing math and science, the significance of not pursuing this work alone, and the power of communities being compared to a braided sweetgrass strand. Passionate about opening doors for Indigenous youth in STEM, Michael finds a shared mission with Kori and probes into the future of Indigenous education and her ongoing projects.

Listen, learn, and be part of the journey as we navigate the rich depths of Indigenous knowledge and science. Catch us here on the Meet The Onôtinikêwak (Warriors) Podcast.

Kori Czuy's profile page at Spark Science Centre, Calgary - https://www.sparkscience.ca/ways-of-doing

Kori Czuy's podcast, Ancestral Science - https://www.relationalsciencecircle.com/ancestralscience