Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars

Our Story, Vision, Mission

Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars

Our Story

Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars s began with a simple but powerful idea: Indigenous youth deserve access to high-quality, culturally relevant STEAM learning, no matter where they live.

In many Indigenous communities across New Brunswick, geography, funding constraints, and limited resources continue to restrict access to hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math programming. Rather than expecting youth to leave their communities to find these opportunities, Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars brings them directly to schools and community spaces through a fully equipped mobile makerspace.

From the beginning, this initiative was built with youth, not for them. Through a deeply participatory design process, Indigenous youth shared ideas, sketches, stories, and dreams about what an ideal learning space could look and feel like. The result is a learning environment where technology, storytelling, creativity, and culture exist side by side.

Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars is now co-led by Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) and the McKenna Institute at the University of New Brunswick, who are responsible for its continued growth and delivery across the province. The early development of the project was shaped in part by the contributions of the Ulnooweg Education Centre.

Our Vision

Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars is more than a name, it is a reflection of movement, identity, and possibility.

Wabanaki honours the People of the Dawn
In Motion reflects movement, growth, learning, and mobility
Roots to Stars symbolizes a journey grounded in culture and open to limitless possibility

Our vision is a future where Indigenous youth see themselves reflected in STEAM, confident in their abilities, grounded in their culture, and empowered to pursue their aspirations in post-secondary education, entrepreneurship, and diverse career pathways.

Our Mission

Our mission is to remove barriers to STEAM education for Indigenous youth (ages 16+ and above) by delivering engaging, hands-on, culturally grounded learning directly to communities across New Brunswick.

The Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars mobile makerspace travels to rural and urban communities, offering interactive STEAM workshops. Youth are encouraged to explore new technologies while staying firmly connected to their identity, culture, and community.

This is learning that meets them where they are.

Why It Matters

Indigenous youth are the fastest-growing population in Canada, yet significant gaps remain in post-secondary participation, particularly in STEAM fields. While high school graduation rates are improving, Indigenous youth are still underrepresented in STEAM education and careers due to long-standing systemic barriers, including limited access to resources, exposure, and mentorship.

Technology is reshaping the workforce at an unprecedented pace. Without intentional, community-led interventions, these gaps risk widening even further.

Access is one of the biggest challenges facing rural and remote communities.

Many schools simply do not have the funding, equipment, or specialized staff needed to offer hands-on STEAM programming.

Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars removes this barrier by bringing the learning directly to the community. The mobile unit transforms schoolyards and community spaces into vibrant learning hubs, giving youth the opportunity to experiment, create, and build skills without having to leave home.

At its core, Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars is about creating pathways.

It is a space where youth can:

Build confidence and technical skills
See themselves reflected in STEAM fields
Explore future education and career options
Stay deeply connected to their cultural values and traditions

By blending tradition with innovation, Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars supports Indigenous youth in imagining futures that are both grounded and limitless, strengthening communities today while helping shape tomorrow's leaders, creators, and problem-solvers.

Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars

Our Story, Vision, Mission

Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars

Our Story

Our Vision

Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars is more than a name, it is a reflection of movement, identity, and possibility.

Our Mission

Why It Matters

Access is one of the biggest challenges facing rural and remote communities.

At its core, Wabanaki in Motion NB: Roots to Stars is about creating pathways.

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