Living in Balance: Anishinaabe Star Knowledge

Living in Balance: Anishinaabe Star Knowledge is a full-dome presentation of Anishinaabe Star Knowledge: teachings about the stars, planets, seasons and how to live a good life, respecting the lands, waters, animals and all forms of life. The stories, moons and constellations are brought to life through the exquisite artwork of Elizabeth LaPensée and narration by Aarin Dokum.

The program presents traditional Anishinaabe stories and contemporary insights about environmental changes brought on by climate change, explaining how climate change has impacted star knowledge, and how star knowledge reveals the impacts of climate change. We learn, for example, how the correlation between the Maple Sugar Moon and the running of maple sap is out of alignment in some places. The program was created to provide indigenous elementary and middle school students with a representation of their culture in their STEM program, emphasizing science and advancing respect for indigenous knowledge systems among students throughout Michigan.

(Created by the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University in partnership with Native Skywatchers, 2022, 25 min.)

Teachings shared by Native Skywatchers Carl Gawboy, William Wilson, and Dr. Annette S. Lee; narrated by Aarin Dokum with Anishinaabemowin translations by Alphonse Pitawanakwat, set to art by Elizabeth LaPensée

Presented in partnership with Indigenous Film and Arts Festival