In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Cassidy Swanston and Abbey Ramdeo from Actua discuss their roles in teaching science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) across Canada. They delve into the importance of digital citizenship and combatting misinformation. Cassidy dispels common misconceptions about digital safety, while Abbey shares insights on building critical digital skills. Both stress the significance of ethical behaviour and critical thinking in navigating the digital wo...
Mar 26, 2025•24 min
In this episode of Root & STEM, Beth, a classroom teacher from Cambridge Bay, NU, Beth Sampson shares her journey from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, to becoming a senior high math and science specialist in a remote Nunavut community. Beth discusses her academic background, the challenges and opportunities of digital citizenship, and her pursuit of a master's degree in Creativity, Sustainability, and Innovation through Cape Breton University. Beth explains her experiences with digital education d...
Mar 19, 2025•48 min
Vivian Lee, Director of Education and Strategy for the Open Digital Literacy and Access Network (ODLAN), discusses the organization's mission to support underserved LGBTQIA+ communities with digital literacy and safety. Vivian shares insights on what digital literacy entails, its critical components, and why it matters. She elaborates on digital citizenship and its broader implications, including online safety, parental guidance, and the impacts of AI. Discussing misconceptions and ethical conce...
Mar 19, 2025•30 min
In this episode, Jon Corbett, an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University, discusses the importance of integrating Indigenous languages and cultural symbols into computing technologies. He highlights his work in developing a computer science curriculum that incorporates an Indigenous viewpoint and the challenges of alienation faced by Indigenous communities in Westernized technology environments. Jon also shares examples of current software that effectively incorporate Indigenous knowledge...
Feb 28, 2025•27 min
In this episode, Courtney Cameron, East Region Coordinator for Makers Making Change, discusses her role and the organization's mission to provide low-cost, open-source assistive technology. Makers Making Change operates under the Neil Squire Society, which focuses on designing and producing affordable assistive technology for people with disabilities. Courtney explains the program's origins, including the inspiring story of Neil Squire and the development of groundbreaking assistive devices. She...
Feb 28, 2025•18 min
In this episode, Christine M'Lot, a seasoned teacher, curriculum developer, and newly appointed associate publisher of Portage and Main Press, shares her innovative approach to teaching through hip-hop. Christine delves into her personal connection to hip-hop music and how it has influenced her teaching philosophy. She discusses her unique use of hip-hop and rap lyrics as a tool for teaching poetry and describes the challenges and successes she's encountered in the classroom. Christine also intr...
Feb 28, 2025•20 min
In this episode of the Root & STEM Podcast, host Salma is joined by Maura Grossman, a research professor at the University of Waterloo and an expert in responsible artificial intelligence. They dive into the topic of deepfakes, discussing their differences from other manipulated media, their impact on political processes, and the concept of the liar's dividend. Grossman also explores advancements in detection technologies, regulatory challenges, and the importance of public awareness in comb...
Feb 27, 2025•19 min
In this episode of The Root & STEM Podcast , guest host Sofia Osborne speaks with Madie Bouvier-Brown, marine operations lead at Open Ocean Robotics. Madie begins by sharing how her interest in marine science started. Madie then describes her role at Open Ocean and the purpose and use of USV's (unmanned surface vehicle) in monitoring ocean trends and marine date collection.
Sep 04, 2024•15 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, artist, educator and environmentalist, Betty Carpick, speaks about her unique interest and skill in creating art with natural supplies. She begins by explaining how her interest in art first developed (01:15). Betty tells us how she identifies and harvests plants to create her natural inks (08:08) and describes the process of turning the plants into inks ready to be used (10:18). Next, Betty speaks on her education style and her purpose as an educa...
Jun 20, 2024•19 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, muralist Jess Spagnolo, brings us along her journey as an artist. She begins by sharing her behind the scenes thoughts during the illustration of the Root & STEM magazine’s issue 9 cover (01:02). Jess details her university experience and subsequent shift towards muralism after a disenchantment with conventional art schooling (02:23). She describes her approach to a blank wall (06:47), before sharing a beautiful story of how her murals can impa...
Jun 05, 2024•17 min
On this episode of The Root & STEM Podcast, we hear from Indigenous climate researcher, Janna Wale, a policy advisor at Canada Climate Institute. Janna begins by reminiscing on her interest in schooling as a youth (00:50). She then describes her role and some of her current responsibilities at the Canada Climate Institute (02:01). Janna tells us about her inspiration behind dedicating her career to climate research (05:38), before emphasizing the importance of salmon and salmon abundance to ...
May 22, 2024•13 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Director Of Heritage for the Government of Nunavut, Caroline Whittle, shares her insight on the state of language preservation among the Inuit community in Nunavut. She begins by explaining her position with the Government of Nunavut and sharing some of her day to day responsibilities. (01:10). Next, Caroline describes the reason English has become the predominant language in the North (04:14) and tells us about a course she took that promotes the ...
May 02, 2024•15 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Sofia Osborne speaks with Tania Willard, an Indigenous artist/curator and assistant professor at the University of British Columbia about her journey as an artist and connecting with and expressing her culture. Tania begins by sharing how her passion for art began and takes us through the stages of her career (01:08). Next, she offers some advice to art educators working in rural and indigenous communities (07:10). Finally, Tania describes what she...
Apr 10, 2024•14 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Sheena Bolton and Timothy King of the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) explain CyberTitan, a cybersecurity competition for middle and high schoolers organized by the ICTC. Tim breaks down what goes on during a CyberTitan competition and the benefits a competitor might take away from the experience (05:02). Next, Tim reveals who prepares the objectives for CyberTitan and shares some student successes (07:52) before Sheena exp...
Jan 19, 2024•33 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, former Pinnguaq co-op student, Julia Young, shares her unique journey as a highschool student and the helpful tips and tools she learned along the way. She begins by explaining The Science Behind podcast series she created with no prior media production or teaching experience. (03:21). Next, Julia describes Harnessing The Benefits: The Digital World , the second podcast she created for Pinnguaq (06:25) and the corresponding article she wrote for th...
Dec 14, 2023•18 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Christine Menard of Get Cyber Safe shares loads of tips and advice regarding cybersecurity. She begins with an explanation of what Get Cyber Safe is (01:20), and continues by revealing which demographics are the highest risk for cyber attacks (03:08). Christine lays out an immediate action plan for the scenario of facing a ransomware attack (10:33) and shares her thoughts on why password managers are a very helpful tool (12:22). She then shares wha...
Nov 16, 2023•41 min
Winners of the 2023 Kawartha Lakes Hackathon, Callum Penney and Aiden Mackey, recap their experience participating in the event. They are joined by Tanner Big Canoe, a Junior Software Developer at Pinnguaq and co-organizer of the hackathon, Tanner Big Canoe who provides some context on hackathons and how they can be beneficial to competitors. To learn more, check out the latest issue of the Root & STEM magazine , AI Amplified: Staying Cybersafe (00:44) What is a hackathon? (02:48) Callum (wi...
Oct 18, 2023•16 min
Lawyer and UOIT Business Law Professor, Dr. Rajen Akalu offers insights on the privacy concerns of artificial intelligence and data collection. He shares examples of misuse of personal user data (12:03) and describes the current legislation aimed at protecting the privacy of Canadians (23:13). Dr. Akalu also identifies a middle ground between business and ethics when it comes to privacy and explains how to use AI safely and effectively.
Oct 04, 2023•29 min
On this episode of The Root & STEM Podcast, host and journalist Sofia Osborne speaks with Aidan Pine, a researcher working on the Indigenous Language Technology project at the Canadian National Research Council. Pine shares what got him interested in language revitalization (00:56). He then explains how his endangered language dictionary app Mother Tongues was founded (03:35). Aidan explains the ReadAlong Studio, a part of the Canadian Indigenous languages technology project that he has assi...
Sep 20, 2023•20 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Richard Van Camp, shares all about his ongoing graphic novel series The Spirit of Denendeh . He begins by crediting those who contributed to the creation of the books (00:45). Richard reviews A Blanket of Butterflies, the first volume of The Spirit of Denendeh (03:20), before teasing the newly released second volume, As I Unfold You in Petals (09:59). Richard touches on including cultural themes in his books including Tłı̨chǫ Dene laws (13:16). He ...
Jul 26, 2023•21 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Richard Van Camp, shares experiences growing up as an Indigenous person in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and how those experiences helped shape him into the successful author he is today. He begins by describing how a nearly fatal emergency led to his obsession for comics and reading (01:04). Richard explains how he identified a flaw in literacy education in his northern hometown as a young child (05:06), before describing how he embodies his ...
Jul 12, 2023•45 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Matriarchal Firekeeper and project coordinator at UAlberta, Amanda Almond, shares her experiences in research and community engagement, including her involvement in creating an interactive augmented reality (AR) learning experience. The We Are All Related AR project teaches local Indigenous knowledge and uses an AR format by visiting dedicated granite sculptures on the University of Alberta campus. She begins by explaining how research on or in Ind...
Jun 21, 2023•17 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Anishinaabe author and journalist, Waubgeshig Rice, shares details of his sequel to Moon of the Crusted Snow, his critically acclaimed 2018 novel, and offers insights to Indigenous issues from the perspective of a professional in writing and broadcasting. He begins by offering a brief summary of Moon of the Crusted Snow (00:58), and continues by teasing the sequel, Moon of the Turning Leaves, set to be released in October ‘23 (02:34), a continuatio...
Jun 07, 2023•35 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Indigenous computational media artist, computer programmer & professor at Simon Fraser University, Jon Corbett, shares his journey in creating a programming language that reflects the values of his Cree culture. He begins by defining programming using unique comparisons to relatable life experiences (00:53). He then describes how programming is fundamentally colonial (05:16). Jon explains how the Western relationship between time and money has ...
May 24, 2023•40 min
Former Parliamentary Poet Laureate Louise Bernice Halfe shares her story of poetry and healing on this episode of the Root & STEM Podcast. Louise begins by thinking back to the origins of her love for writing (01:10) and shares where she draws inspiration from (06:30). She explains what works to preserve Cree language (10:23), before offering some honest guidance to those with aspirations of being a poet (12:22). Finally, Louise describes how literacy expands beyond reading and writing and h...
May 03, 2023•21 min
In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, educator, musician and winner of the 2022 Qilaut songwriting contest, Jocelyn Malla explores the importance of music in literacy education, language preservation, and self-healing. She shares the meaning behind her award-winning song Kajjaarijara (00:53) and how her love for creating music started (03:29). Jocelyn describes her reaction to winning the contest and how it has changed her life for the better (04:47), before explaining how music has he...
Apr 19, 2023•15 min
In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, we hear from Andrew McConnell, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Coordinator for the YRDSB, once again as he shares the importance of Indigenous knowledge and voices in youth learning. He explains how the language we use can affect the validity of Indigenous science (00:27). Andrew describes the importance of incorporating a compulsory high school language credit focused on Indigenous texts (05:25), before sharing his opinion in contrast...
Mar 29, 2023•18 min
On this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Andrew McConnell, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Coordinator for the YRDSB, shares the importance of Indigenous knowledge and voices in youth learning. He identifies the areas in which the education of youth and adolescents can be enhanced to include the viewpoints of various Indigenous communities (01:41). Andrew describes why non-Indigenous educators teaching Indigenous ideas fall short (10:18), before explaining how a change in ped...
Mar 15, 2023•22 min
In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, Pinnguaq’s digital skills educator, Sherisse Richards, shares how Scratch–a programming language–can help educators teach students about coding, storytelling, and animation. She explains what Scratch is, how it can be used, and why it’s gained global popularity (00:49). She dives into Scratch’s core uses beyond programming education, including digital literacy, language, and logical reasoning (03:00). Sherisse highlights the support and resources o...
Mar 01, 2023•17 min
In this episode of the Root & STEM podcast, interactive game designer Brandon Bunnie shares how video games and 3D interactives can assist in learning and preserving Indigenous knowledge and language. He shares the tools he uses in developing a game (2:32) and the step by step process of development from idea to completion (03:39). Brandon describes his recent creation Star Scribe and how it’s effective in teaching alternate perspectives (06:11), before explaining how it successfully preserv...
Feb 15, 2023•16 min
