In this first webinar of Native Universe: Indigenous Voice in Science Centers Series, participants took a virtual drive around the big Island of Hawai`i with Ka`iu Kimura, Director of `Imiloa Astronomy Center, and the rest of the Native Universe team. By remembering and reflecting on the `Imiloa Intensive experience, participants revisited sacred sites on the Big Island, including Maunakea where world-class telescopes sit, and were able to hear the voices of leaders in the Native Hawaiian community as part of a conciliatory venue where science and community knowledge can be shared. Participants came away with an awareness of the Native Universe project, how Indigenous and scientific cultures and views can be shared with integrity within a science center, and how this impacts the local Indigenous communities’ involvement in a science center.
Native Universe (NU) is a National Science Foundation-funded, four-year project to build science museums’ accessibility and relevance to diverse audiences, with a specific focus on local Native American communities. NU is led by the Indigenous Education Institute, co-led by Multiverse at the University of California, Berkeley and `Imiloa at the University of Hawai`i, Hilo, in partnership with ASTC. In the webinar series, the Native Universe team will take participants through a virtual storytelling event so they can reflect on their learning journey as part of the Native Universe project.
