Strategies for Protecting and Sharing Indigenous Sky Knowledges Gathered as part of a Collaborative Indigenous Fulldome Film Project

This internship proposal aims to support Nikan Heritage in its efforts to protect and pass on Indigenous astronomical knowledges retrieved through the research, development, and production phases of an immersive FullDome (360-degree) animated film. This film project focuses on the astronomical and Sky knowledge of First Peoples from northeast of Turtle Island (North America). The internships focus on four innovation and operational challenges: (1) inventorying and sharing back research material and footage used to produce the film; (2) developing educational material as complement to the film experience; (3) supporting cultural mediators who will discuss the film and its connections to Indigenous astronomical heritage at the Montreal Planetarium and, eventually, as part of a film tour planned for summer 2027 in Indigenous communities; and (4) evaluating these strategies for sharing and passing on Indigenous sky and star knowledge. These processes will support, in collaboration with members of the project’s advisory circles, the creation of video clips and a digital multimedia space complementary to the film, highlighting the people and communities who have contributed to the film with their insights, talents and stories. Interns will support the development of training sessions with the film’s cultural and scientific mediators. The internships will provide an opportunity to evaluate the benefits and impacts of these strategies.

Faculty Supervisor:

Barbara Moktthewenkwe Wall;Mélanie Chaplier;Mélanie Chaplier

Student:

Partner:

Nikan Héritage

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Information and cultural industries

University:

Trent University; Université de Montréal

Program: