‘Blending mainstream science with traditional knowledge:’ First Nations Science Fair draws hundreds of students

CTV’s Jon Hendricks takes in the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Science Fair, which showcases the work and talent of hundreds of students.

The next Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein or Steve Jobs could be in Winnipeg.

Hundreds of students from across the province crammed into the Victoria Inn Thursday for the annual Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Schools Science Fair.

The students showed off research projects that covered everything from water quality to robotics.

“Our students are really blending both mainstream science with traditional knowledge and culture, to create something that’s very innovative and very creative,” said Thelma Nice, Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Manager of Community Services.

Grade 9 student Demarcus Boulanger from Bloodvein River First Nation, built a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) out of Tupperware. Boulanger did all the coding, wiring and even added a camera to the ROV.

“It records through an SD card,” said Boulanger.

While it was a lot of work, he says he was hardly aware of the effort because he was having so much fun. And he feels his invention could have a very positive use in his community.

“Because I care about the environment, I care about our water,” said Boulanger. “I feel like everyone should know what’s in our water. How much debris? What kind of aquatic life there is in the water.”

Water quality was also at the heart of another project by Jordyn Cutlip from Grand River. She says her home community has endured flooding and frequent agricultural runoff, and Cutlip says her family feared it could be affecting the safety of their drinking water.

“My grandfather told me not to drink the water,” recalled Cutlip.

So the Grade 8 student tested the tap water from several community members homes. She found, “there’s high hardness and alkalinity.”

The winners of the science fair will go on to the Canada-Wide Science Fair 2026 to be held in Edmonton in May.