THUNDER BAY - Fifty Indigenous youth are getting a scientific grasp on things at summer camp.
Students from 27 Northwestern Ontario communities visited Lakehead University and the Confederation College to get some training in the field of science this week.
On Wednesday, students were able to take the hands-on approach to water filtration by making their own handmade systems.
They traded in currency to create their own filters made up of gravel, sand, and active charcoal.
“We thought we should do one layer at a time, and slowly the water sort of became purified,” said 17-year-old Lucas Rioux-DePerry.
Students were faced with challenges that mirrored the concerns of clean water availability in various First Nations communities.
“We took an activity called ‘Water for the World’ and we adapted it for an Indigenous-Canadian setting,” said instructor Ruth Orloci-Goodison.
“The purpose of the activity is to talk about where water comes from, how it’s available or not in different communities, and how to address issues surrounding water.”
These issues were based on real-life scenarios such as lack of funding, infrastructure, or expertise.
“If you don’t have clear instructions, if you have a budget, then by what means do you solve that problem?” asked Orloci-Goodison, a third-year geology undergraduate.
“Learning how to work like that when not everything is available that is a very real and very important skill in life.”
It’s a skill that Rioux-DePerry thinks it’s an appropriate one that is needed for various communities.
“Some communities are not fortunate as far as resources and water - we had to improvise,” he said. “It taught me that there are different strengths and weaknesses for each community.”
The camp will continue all week with opportunities for students to tour the nature of downtown Port Arthur, and participate in geocaching.
