Smudging, gardening and art: Students flourish in Indigenous STEAM camp

Minneapolis Public Schools offers a six-week summer American Indian STEAM program, according to reporting by Sahan Journal. The program combines science, technology, engineering, arts and math with cultural learning, including gardening with traditional plants like tobacco, sage and sweetgrass. Nearly 50 students attend; half are Native American. This year’s theme focused on water protection.

Siena Braun, a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and co-author of the curriculum, leads students in hands-on activities, such as smudging, gardening and crafting. The program began virtually in 2020 and moved to a Native-centered elementary school in south Minneapolis that is housed in the same building as Sullivan STEAM School.