About
Recommended for all ages
Join us April 7, 7–9:30pm as we kick-off the third annual Statewide Star Party for a conversation with astrophysicist and artist, Dr. Annette S. Lee and project director of We Are Still Here Minnesota, Ramona Kitto Stately. In this program Annette and Ramona will discuss Etuaptmumk, Two-Eyed Seeing—an approach that utilizes both the strengths of indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing, along with western knowledge and ways of knowing. This discussion will touch on the concept of constellations and the conceptual distinctions and layers of understanding gained when viewed through an indigenous perspective—an illustration of how culturally relevant and inclusive strategies can contribute to increased scientific learning.
Registration is requested through Eventbrite in order to receive a secure Zoom Webinar link.
Special Guests
Dr. Annette S. Lee is an astrophysicist, artist and the Director of the Native Skywatchers research and programming initiative. She has over three decades of experience in education as a teacher, university instructor, teacher educator, program administrator, professional visual artist, and researcher. Her passion is to work at the intersection of art, science, and culture. This work grounds her in wellness and social justice. Designed by Lee (2007), the Native Skywatchers initiative seeks to remember and revitalize Indigenous star and earth knowledge. The hope is to inspire all people to have a rekindling or deepening sense of awe and personal relationship to the cosmos. Annette’s work in astronomy includes a PhD with a dissertation entitled, The Effects on Student Knowledge and Engagement When Using a Culturally Responsive Framework to Teach ASTR 101.
Annette’s work as a visual artist spans four decades. Receiving an MFA (Yale School of Art, 2000) with a focus on painting and a thesis show entitled “Star Medicine”, the work has since grown into the Digital Arts and Social Practice. This includes: mixed media, digital storytelling, spoken word art, animation, and motion media. Annette has curated two exhibits for the National Museum of Science and Technology-Ingenium. Two current art grants (Minnesota State Arts Board 2021) are fueling production of community-based digital story work and animation. Annette served as Professor of Astronomy at St. Cloud State University for thirteen years, is an Honorary/Adjunct Full Professor at the University of Southern Queensland in the Centre for Astrophysics, Associate Adjunct Affiliate Faculty at the University of California-Santa Cruz in the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, and affiliate of the SETI Institute. Annette is mixed-race Lakota and her communities are Ojibwe and D/Lakota.
Ramona Kitto Stately is an enrolled member of the Santee Sioux Dakhóta Nation. She has a BA in Dakota Art and Culture and a minor in Business, and a Masters of Education with an emphasis on Teacher Leadership from Augsburg University. After 15 years teaching Indian Education in Minnesota, she is now Project Director for the We Are Still Here Minnesota, creating action for narrative change. Ramona is the mother of two children, an accomplished beadwork artist with moccasins on display in the Science Museum of Minnesota, and currently serves as the Chairperson of the Minnesota Indian Education Association since 2016. She is a part of the scholars team with of the Minnesota Humanities Centers for Learning from Place: Bdote, and wrote Pazahiyaywen’s Story of the Bdote as a reflection of inspiration from her Great-Great Grandmother who survived the genocidal tactics during the US Dakota War.
In December 2021, Ramona received the Ron McKinley award from the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership whose focus is to build equitable education spaces that uplift and empower Minnesota’s POCI students and advance racial equity and excellence in education.
Minnesota’s Astronomy Classroom programming is generously supported by Ruth & John Huss.
Thank you to our 150th anniversary presenting sponsor General Mills.