Om March 30, 2021, Callysto hosted a panel discussion that focused on exploring Indigenous culture through mathematics and interactive computing.

The main purpose of this event was to introduce an upcoming hands-on technical workshop featuring classroom learning resources developed in partnership with the Tla’amin Nation. 

The panel discussed:

• The Tla'amin Nation's traditional basket weaving and fish trapping practices, and perspectives;
• The importance of partnership with Indigenous Peoples to promote understanding of ethnomathematics;
• How to leverage code and technology to celebrate Indigenous culture;
• The Callysto classroom resources that showcase the mathematics behind traditional practices of the Tla’amin Nation.

Panelists:

• Veselin Jungic - Canadian mathematician and award-winning educator at Simon Fraser University, and coordinator for the Math Catcher program.
• Alex Sutcliffe - University of Newcastle, Australia, Information Technology degree. Tla’amin community member.
• Betty Wilson - School teacher (retired). Member of the Tla’amin nation.
• Laura Gutierrez Funderburk - Callysto data scientist, and co-creator of Callysto basket weaving and fish trap learning resources.

The recording of the panel disusion is available here.

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"Thanks so much for the presentation today! I loved what you’re doing. It’s so imaginative and beautiful making these concepts so much more concrete for students and at the same time sharing such important teachings about history, Indigenous knowledge, and stewardship. I think this will make a real impact on students’ lives and ways of thinking, a real positive difference. I hope it gets really widely used!

I was so happy to be able to watch this, thanks again."

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"I am grateful to Callysto, partners from SFU and from Tla'amin Nation for today's panel discussion. The collaboration showcased today is inspirational from many perspectives! (I am trying to follow the "two-eyed seeing" path attributed to Elder Albert Marshall.) The ongoing partnership is a shining example of a respectful collaboration that links First Nation, higher education, and nonprofit contributors. Thank you!"