About

The Math Catcher: Mathematics Through Aboriginal Storytelling project includes the creation of a series of short animated films that accompany picture books, as well as the development of related activities that introduce math topics and techniques through stories that follow Aboriginal storytelling formats and contain elements of Aboriginal traditions and cultures. The animations and books currently have English and Aboriginal languages versions. The primary objective of the program is to promote mathematics among elementary and high school students, as well as members of the Aboriginal communities, both in urban settings and on reserves. This is to be done in a way that Aboriginal children see themselves and their culture connected with mathematics. There are two further and equally important objectives. First, short films in Aboriginal languages play a double role by promoting both mathematics and the languages. Second, through the movies, the picture books, and the activities that are built around these resources, we use mathematics as a vehicle to promote Aboriginal traditions and cultures among non-Aboriginal young people.

The main purpose of the short films, which are 3-4 minutes in length, is to relate stories about the adventures of animated characters. The scenarios take place in Aboriginal cultural and physical environments. The resolution of a particular plot always requires some mathematical knowledge. Plots in our stories are a mixture of adventures and math puzzles with the aim of catching a viewer’s attention and interest (thus the title of our project). Each story closes with an open-ended question that should spark discussions and lead to further activities. The question at the end of each story is purposefully not answered in the story.