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| Paper: |
Engaging Northern Communities for the June 2021 Solar Eclipse |
| Volume: |
533, ASP 2021: Sharing Best Practices – AstronomyTeaching and Public Engagement |
| Page: |
125 |
| Authors: |
Woodford, C.; Bolduc-Duval, J. |
| Abstract: |
The June 2021 annular solar eclipse was visible in Canada and its totality was uniquely visible in the territory of Nunavut and the northern regions of Ontario and Quebec. The land where the eclipse was best seen is home to largely Indigenous communities that are relatively rural and remote. Discover the Universe lead the Eclipse 2021 project, including investigating the languages and cultures that live on this land, designing and ordering eclipse glasses with inscriptions in eight languages, creating informational content for all members of the communities, and developing, packing, and sending educational kits to educators. Our education kits were available in English and French for all written materials, videos, images, and presentation files. The information sheets we created for the wider community were available in any two languages out of English, French, Inuktitut (Baffin), Inuktitut (Nunavik), Western Ojibway, James Bay Cree, Swampy Cree and Oji-Cree. The educational materials included an ASP eclipse demo, printouts of the information sheets for students to take home, eclipse glasses, and a USB containing a scaffolded presentation on eclipse topics with suggestions for in-class, lab, assessment, and homework activities, an introduction video, and a story-time video featuring Innu astrophysicist Laurie Rousseau-Nepton from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope with captions available in all eight languages. We successfully distributed 267 kits, which included 20,880 eclipse glasses, to 86 communities in and around the path of annularity. This project expanded our network and ability to develop meaningful, relevant astronomy education content with Indigenous communities and educators. This presentation will review the creation, impact, and lessons learned from this project as we prepare for the 2024 solar eclipse and begin new projects that are intended for Indigenous communities. |
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