Our Science Questers visit Chief Calvin Craigan of the shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation and their longhouse built of cedar, which has spiritual significance. Longhouses were built using ancient engineering principles, and usually housed several families. An’ostin describes the tipis of his Blackfoot people, with each post representing something important to the builder, and the circular base expressing unity. Tamaireia, from New Zealand (Aotearoa), describes the Maori houses called marae with panels and carvings that tell traditional stories. In all these cultures, building materials were meaningful and represented the spirit and history of the people.In the animated story, The Haunted Tipi, Grace and her little brother visit their grandparents on the rez for the summer and find the source of strange night noises. A hoop dancer demonstrates his skills on a city building roof.

Douglas Cardinal from Alberta Blackfoot Nation describes how he, as an architect, designs buildings to meet people’s needs and supervises the construction. He uses indigenous knowledge and values in his designs, respecting the land, being in harmony with the Mother Earth, and walking with a drum in one hand and a computer in the other.

Kai describes how his brother An’ostin made a cosy lean-to shelter in the woods with long sticks and spruce branches, and questers take a look at Anasazi cliffside dwellings. Christie Lee Charles of the Musqueam Nation performs a lively Halkomelem (Hul'qumi'num) hip hop music piece about ancient teachings. 

Astronaut John Herrington from the Chickasaw Nation takes us to Peru’s Machu Picchu, (‘old peak’ in Quechuan), now a UNESCO World Heritage site. This sacred place high in the Andes mountains was built by the Inca over 500 years ago; it demonstrates the complexity of these pre-Columbian indigenous terraced cities and buildings engineered to be resistant to earthquakes and mudslides. Indigenous engineering and architectural expertise are evident in the design of longhouses, tipis, hogans, and other indigenous dwellings.

COYOTE’S CRAZY SMART SCIENCE SHOW (Coyote Science) is a fun, educational science series designed for elementary students. Drawing on wisdom from pioneers in Indigenous education, including Dr. Leroy Little Bear, Amethyst First Rider, and Dr. Lorna Williams, Coyote Science bridges the worlds of Indigenous and Western science, teaching kids scientific concepts through discussions with Indigenous scientists, storytelling, animation, music, and experiments.

BIO: Created by Loretta Todd, a Métis–Cree filmmaker who was one of the first Indigenous women to pursue film studies at Simon Fraser University in BC. Loretta is an amateur science geek who always wanted to inspire Indigenous children and youth to learn more about science, especially Indigenous science. Using her creative skills as a creative, L. S. Todd is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning filmmaker known for powerful, visual storytelling and cultural leadership.