WaYS Spotlight

Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) Butterfly Project creates space and time to build relationships and deep learning amongst educators and Wabanaki Cultural Knowledge Sharers. It is a multi-step process over a long-term continuum and follows the Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) educational model.

This project was made possible with generous support from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and funding through NASA.

We would like to express our heartfelt graditude to everyone who contribuated their time, creativity, and expertise to bring this project to life.

This video was filmed on the unceded homelands of the Penobscot Nation, who have cared for these lands, waters, and forests since time immemorial. We honor the enduring relationship between the Penobscot people and this land, and we recognize their continued presence, stewardship, and sovereignty. We also acknowledge all Wabanaki Nations– the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, and Mi’kmaq– whose lands and waters sustain us all.

Special thanks to Brown Barn studios for production: https://www.brownbarnstudios.com

Directed and Edited by: Logan Dana

Produced by: Kiwenik Lolar, Asher Brown, Henry Allison

Cinematography by: Brian Durkee

I think it is important to know the relationship between us because people who only know about western science who don’t have the knowledge of TEK I feel like they kinda have a disadvantage because they don’t know how important those things really are . To me, I can see the other half of it were some body who only knows the western science half might just see as object where I kinda see the life form and how important it is to us as humans.
– Recent WaYS college graduate