In the News


News Stories
 

2022

2022-09-05 Jungić, V., Two-Eyed Seeing: Mathematics and Indigenous Traditions and Cultures, Maple Trans. 2, 1, Article 15186.
2022-09-01 Jungić, V., Math Catcher Outreach Program, Notices of the American Mathematical Society, Volume 69, No. 8, pages 1369-1375
2022-03-01 Borwein, N., Glanfield, F., and Jungić, V., Indigenizing University Mathematics, CMS Notes, Vol. 54, no. 2
2022-02-01 Jungić, V., Mathematical Discovery: A Poet vs. A Mathematician, FYMSiC Newsletter, Issue 9
2022-01-11 Office for Aboriginal Peoples Annual Newsletter published an article about the Math Catcher Program: Go here

2021

2021-12-11 Curriculum Innovation@SD57_CI' tweet about the Math Catcher Festival: https://twitter.com/SD57_CI/status/1469718393775218690
2021-11-21 UBC NITEP: Experience math in a completely new way by exploring two websites: Math Catcher Through Digital Storytelling & Radical Math for social justice: https://nitep.educ.ubc.ca/november-22-2021-math-catcher-and-radical-math/
2021-10-24 Queen's University Library's page: Lesson Plans on Indigenous Ways of Knowing for Math
2021-09-15 UBC Library's page: Indigenous Education K-12
2021-03-30 NSERC's tweet about the Math Catcher Program: https://twitter.com/NSERC_CRSNG/status/1376618010711064580
2021-03-20 Math Catcher Festival, CMS Notes, Vol. 53, no. 2
2021-03-12 Pi Day: How Indigenous stone-fish-traps contribute to mathematical education, SFU News

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2015-11-21                   Sfu Faculty Of Science Open House
2015-08-31 Concept Study - Profound Understanding Of Teachers' Mathematics
2015-05-26 Strengths: Beaufort Delta Education Council Fall In-Service

2015-04-28

Veselin Jungic was invited to present about the Math Catcher Program at the Alberta Aboriginal Education Articulation Committee.

2015-04-03   

in Jungic was a guest in the Global BC show "UpFront with Sonia Sunger". He talked about the ucoming 2015 SFU Academic Summer Camp for Aboriginal High School Students.

2015-04-02                     

An article written by Mr. Gene Law for the CFNR (Canada First Nations Radio) about the 2015 SFU Academic Summer Camp for Aboriginal Students is available here.

2015-04-02

Today's SFU Media Release about the upcoming 2015 SFU Academic Summer Camp for Aboriginal High School Students is avaliable here.

2014

No Events To Post

2013

Thursday, November 21, 2013

The BCTF Teacher Magazine has published an article about the Math Catcher Outreach Program. To view the article click here.

Monday, November 4, 2013

The Nox Jayaas Nisga'a Family Childcare Centre is pleased to invite you to the Gadim Gan ganhl Wii Mmaal - Book Launch!

Monday, October 21, 2013

The SFU Public Affairs and Media Relations Department posted a media release with the annoncement of the 4th Annual Aboriginal Students in Math and Science Workshop titled "Hands-onmath, science draws Aboriginal student. 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Mr. Khelsilem Rivers from the Squamish Nation recorded his narration of the Squamish version of the story "Small Number and the Salmon Harvest". The recording was done by Mr. David Brigden from SFU.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Mr. Jonathan Jonny Williams from the Stó:lō Nation recorded his narration of the Halq'eméylem version of the story "Small Number and the Salmon Harvest". The story was translated in the Halq'eméylem language by Mr. William's grandmother Elizabeth Phillips.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Math Catchers visited Westview Elementary School in North Vancouver, B.C. 

Friday, September 13, 2013

Ms. Sheryl Thompson and her family with some very rainbow hexastix.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

The SFU News has published an article about the Math Catcher Program titled "Small Number, big goal". 

Friday, August 2, 2013

The fifth Small Number's adventure "Small Number and the Salmon Harvest" has been completed and posted on Vimeo and YouTube.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Andy Gavel, the film director, Simon Roy, the film illustrator, and Veselin Jungic, who co-wrote the story and produced the film, got together to celebrate the release of "Small Number and the Salmon Harvest" animated film.

Friday, August 2, 2013

We are sad to announce that Mr. Andy Gavel has finished working at the IRMACS Centre Friday, August 2. As a going away present from the Math Catcher team, Andy was presented with an original image from the first Small Number film.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

"Burnaby Now" has published an article about Janelle Dobson-Koscis and her involvement in the Math Catcher Program. 

Monday, July 8, 2013

From Ms. Amanda Raume, Associate Director, Advancement, Faculty of Science:
Great news! I am happy to inform you that we raised $4,995 during the SFU Campus Campaign for Math Catcher! That money will be matched completely by the Dean and by the anonymous donor. It also means that in addition to the money raised for Math Catcher prior to the Campus campaign, we have maxed out the money from the Math department.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

A group of Math Catcher volunteers met to prepare for the next week's SFU Math Camps.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Janelle Dobson-Koscis, a Math Catcher volunteer, and a student from Alderson Elementary were featured on the front page of Tri-City News.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Tri-Cities News, a weekly newspaper covering community events and concerns in Port Moody and Coquitlam published an article about the Math Catcher Outreach Program. 

Friday, April 12, 2013

The Math Catcher Team has been invited to visit School District 5 - Southeast Kootenay during April 16-18. Our host, Ms. Ronalie James, Aboriginal Education Support Worker at Pinewood Elementary, made the following schedule:

April 16/13 (Tuesday)-East Side 
1) 9:00-10:00 – Elkford - Rocky Mountain Elementary - Gr. 6 
2) 11:00-12:00 – Sparwood Secondary - Math 7 
3) 2:00 - 3:00 - Fernie Secondary - Gr.9-11

April 17/13 (Wednesday)-Elementary 
1) 9:15-10:15 - Amy Woodland Elementary, Gr.3 
2) 11:00-12:00 - Pinewood Elementary, Gr.5/6 
3) 1:00-1:45 – Kootenay Educational Services (Sr. Alt) 
4) 2:00-3:00 – Steeples Elementary, Gr.6

April 18/13 (Thursday)-Middle/Highschool 
1) 8:25-9:30 - Laurie Middle School - Gr. 8 Math Class 
2) 10:00 -11:00 - Parkland Middle School-Gr.8 - Fr. 
3) 1:53-3:16 - Mount Baker Secondary – Gr 11 

Friday, April 5, 2013

Math Catchers visited Beaver Creek Elementary School in Surrey, B.C. 

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Mr. Willard "Buddy" Joseph from the Squamish Nation recorded his narration of the story "Small Number and the Salmon Harvest".

 

Saturday, March 30, 2013

In a recent summary of participants’ comments, Dr. Cynthia Nicol, one of the organizers of the Aboriginal K-12 Symposium held on February 8, 2013, at the University of British Columbia, wrote: “Dr. J's animated films and workshop was a highlight for me.”

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Math Catchers visited School District 33, Chilliwack, BC. Our host was Ms. Brenda Point, Vice Principal Aboriginal Education/Shxwetetilthet.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

I received the books you sent and will donate them to our Library collection so they will be available. I have spoken to several curators who are intrigued by your work with local communities in this area, particularly in bringing math and indigenous language together.
Thanks very much,
Ann Stevenson, UBC Museum of Anthropology

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Math Catchers visited Fraser Academy, Vancouver, BC. We had two sessions with 20 students keen to particiapate in our activities. The first presentations was also attended by Ms. Diana Day, a member of the Aboriginal advisory committee of the Vancouver School Board.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Veselin Jungic has been invited to talk about the Math Catcher Outreach Program at this year's Changing the Culture Conference on Friday, May 10.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Alejandro Erickson and Kassia Holland visited Dunsmuir Middle School and Lakewood Elementary in Victoria, BC. They represnted both GeoBurst and the Math Catcher Outreach program.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Math Catcher Team visited Duncan Christian School, Duncan, BC. We met with 75 students from grades 5-7 and their teachers. Thanks to all students, teachers, and the vice-principal for their hospitality!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Mrs. Sarah Soltau-Heller, a grade 2 teacher in Port Hardy, BC, has posted Small Number's math stories on her classroom blog.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Veselin Jungic presented about the Math Catcher Outreach Program at the 3rd UBC Aboriginal Math K-12 Symposium. The title of his presentation was Math Catcher: Mathematics Through Aboriginak Storytelling

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The bilingual English-Nisga'a picture book "Small Number and the Old Canoe" has been printed.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Veselin Jungic presented  to a group of students in the Graduate Diploma in Mathematics & Science Teaching Program at Douglas College, New Westminster, BC. This is a 2-year program for practicing elementary and middle school teachers who are not math/science specialists, but who want to improve their teaching of these subjects. Veselin was a guest lecturer in the course Contemporary Issues in Mathematics and Science Education. The title of his presentation was Aboriginal Students in Mathematics and Science: A Personal View.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Math Catcher Team visited Pemberton Secondary. We met with 78 students and several teachers. Thanks to all students, teachers, and the principal for their hospitality!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Ms. Brenda Audrey Gladstone, COO of the Galileo Educational Network in Calgary, AB, requested several copies of the Small Number bilingual books. These books will be, in Ms. Gladsone's words, used "in our professional sessions."

Monday, January 14, 2013

Veselin Jungic has been invited to give a presentation about the Math Catcher Outreach Program at the 3rd UBC Aboriginal Math K-12 Symposium on February 8, 2013.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Here is a photo of students in the SFU Aboriginal University Preparation Program with just completed hexastixs. This is another activity introduced to the Math Catcher program by Alejandro Erickson.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Mr. Khelsilem Rivers from the Squamish Nation was fetured in today's The Vancouver Sun. Khelsilem has designed two Small Number books: the English-Squamish version of the Small Number and the Old Canoe story as well as the English-Nisga'a version of the same story.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

An alumna of the SFU Faculty of Science has donated $1000 to the Math Catcher Program. Thank you!

2012

Friday, December 28, 2012

During December 27 and 28, GeoBurst, a not for profit, math education enrichment initiative led by Alejandro Erickson and one of the major collaborators of the Math Catcher Program, held a workshop at Science World, Vancouver, BC. Stephani Monkman, Jessica Huchmitt, and Veselin Jungic were among other volunteers supporting this great Alejandro's achievement.

Friday, December 14, 2012

The initial reactions to the animated film Small Number and the Skateboard Park have been very positive. Here are some of the comments that we have received:

  • Fantastic, congratulations! - Alejandro Adem, PIMS Director
  • Wow this looks awesome! - Simon Roy, Artist
  • I enjoyed it very much! - Bob Russell, Professor of Mathematics
  • What a great video. - Carol Thorbes, Information Officer, SFU
  • Very nice, thank you! - Tomas Kaieser, Professor of Mathematics
  • Wonderful! - Matt Devos, Professor of Mathematics
  • This looks great, good job with the animation! - Ivana Filipovic, Manager, Creative Services, SFU
  • I love these videos, great work. - Jacqui Ferraby, Teacher
  • The stories get better and better. - Betty Wilson, Teacher
  • Very cute!! - Claire Cupples, Dean, Faculty of Science, SFU
  • Nice! - Ron Graham, Professor of Mathematics
  • I enjoyed the premiere of Small Number's latest adventure! - Terri Galligos, Teacher in the Aboriginal Education
  • We just watched this with Eli and he likes it a lot! - Petra Menz, Senior Lecturer of Mathematics
  • Congratulations and keep up the good work. - Nassif Ghoussoub, Professor of Mathematics

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Ms. Shirley Alphonse, an elder from the T'Sou-ke Nation, has kindly agreed to tell the Small Number and the Old Canoe story in the Sencoten language.

Friday, December 7, 2012

The premiere of the animated film Small Number and the Skateboard Park was held in the IRMACS Cetre on Friday, December 7. Among others supporters of the Math Catcher Outreach Program, Professor Andrew Petter, President of Simon Fraser University, Professor Jonathan Driver, Vice-President, Academic and Provost of Simon Fraser University, and Professor Peter Borwein, Founding Director of the IRMACS Centre attended the premiere. 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The premiere of the newest Small Number's adventure is scheduled for Friday, December 7. 

Saturday, November 24, 2012

At the 18th Annual Conference on Aboriginal Education, FNESC, Alejandro Erickson, Jessica Humchitt, Veselin Jungic, Stephani Monkman, and Rainalda Sankey gave two workshops titled "Math Catcher: Mathematics Through Aboriginal Storrytelling". The main goal of these workshops was to introduce the Math Catcher Program to seventy-five educators who participated in the two sessions.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Four members of the Math Catcher Outreach Program, Alejandro Erickson, Veselin Jungic, Mark MacLean, and Simon Roy participated in the First Nations Math Education Workshop that was held in Banff, Alberta, between November 19-23. Alejandro Erickson and Veselin Jungic presented on the first day of the workshop. To view their and other presentations click here.

Friday, October 26, 2012

The Math Catcher Team visited James Thompson Elementary in Powell River. 

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The 3rd Annual Aboriginal Students in Math and Science workshop hosted about 90 students and teachers accros the province. In words of Mr. William Lindsay, Director of the SFU Office for Aboriginal Peoples, "Great job today!! I think the math event keeps getting better and better. Are we able to continue this event in future years?"

Ms. Betty Wilson from Powell River wrote, "Thank you so much for the day. i found it to be extremely stimulating.  Our grade 11 student asked if he could be considered to go again next year when you hold the workshop! That says you accomplished what you set out to do."

Ms. Sheena Falconer from Port Alberni wrote, "Just a quick note to say that today was absolutely wonderful - the students seemed to have a good time. They took part in the math conference for the day, which included presentations by some amazing mathematicians. They also went on a tour with Jessica Humchitt to the biology lab."

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Stephanie Monkman, Alejandro Erickson, and Veselin Jungic visited Bayview Elementary School in Nanaimo, B.C. We were warmly welcomed by our host Ms. Jennifer Stringer, several teachers and two large groups of students from Grades 5-7 and Grades 3-4.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The SFU Media and Public Relations Office issued a media release about the upcoming 3rd Annual Aboriginal Students in Math and Science Workshop. 

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Mr. Terry Ivan Reid recorded the Heiltsuk language version of the story "Small Number and the Old Canoe". 

Saturday, September 22, 2012

The developers of an SFU FNS 101 Distance Education course that will be launched in Spring 2013 are considering including Small Number animated films among informative readings/ media that are suitable for an international audience at an introductory level. In the words of Michelle Vandermoor: "As we are currently gathering resources on the topic of language and language reviltilization, we were wondering if we could get permission to use Small Number Counts To 100 (in Blackfoot and Cree). The video would be a great way for students from around the world to be introduced to these languages."

Friday, September 21, 2012

Ms. Constance Tallio and Ms. Evelyn Windsor from the Heiltsuk Nation have completed their translation of the story "Small Number and the Old Canoe" in the Heiltsuk language.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Math Catcher's workshop proposal was accepted for the 18th Annual Provincial Conference on Aboriginal Education, happening from November 22 through November 24 in Vancouver at the Westin Bayshore Hotel.

Friday, September 14, 2012

The Sliammon version of the animated film "Small Number and the Basketball Tournamnet" has been completed. Take a look:http://vimeo.com/49393925.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

For this year's iteration of Math Catcher's "Aboriginal Students in Math and Science" workshop, that is scheduled for October 23, the IRMACS Centre will host a group of about 60 Aboriginal high school students for a day of hands-on mathematics. This is the event schedule:

10:00 -10:10 – Welcome session
10:10 -11:00 - "Math Puzzles" with Shawn Desaulniers, Okanagan College
11:00 -11:10 - Break 
11:10 -12:00 - "GeoBurst" with Alejandro Erickson, University of Victoria
12:00 -1:00 - Lunch 
1:00 - 1:50 - "Rubik's Cube" with Jamie Mulholland, Simon Fraser University
1:50 - 2:00 - Break 
2:10 - 3:00 - "How to cut the cake" with Matt Devos, Simon Fraser University
3:00 - 4:00 - SFU Campus tour 

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

The Math Catcher Project was part of the presentation that the SFU Faculty of Science prepared for Mr. Morgan Sturdy, the Co-founder and the first Chair of ACETECH. The Math Catcher was represented by Jessica Humchitt, Stephani Monkman, and Veselin Jungic.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Blackfoot version of the animated film "Small Number and the Basketball Tournamnet" has been completed. Take a look: http://vimeo.com/48966475.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Here is a preview of Simon's work on the newest Small Number adventure.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Ms. Betty Wilson recorded the Sliammon version of the story “Small Number and the Basketball Tournament”. The story has also been included in the Sliammon language segment of the First Voices website: http://www.firstvoices.com/en/Sliammon/story

Friday, August 24, 2012

Ms. Loretta Todd and Veselin Jungic discussed a possible contribution of the Math Catcher Program to Ms. Todd's proposal to the APTN for a children's series abouth math and science.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Mr. Benson Nookemis from the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nation recorded his narration of the Huu-ay-ahd version of the story "Small Number and the Old Canoe".

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Veselin Jungic, Jessica Humchitt, and Alejandro Erickson submitted an application to present a workshop titled "Math Catcher Outreach Program" at the 18th Annual Provincial Conference on Aboriginal Education that will be held in Vancouver, BC, in November 2012.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Mr. Dexter Anaskon recorded his narration of the story "Small Number and the Skateboard Park". 

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

In a lengthy conversation, Donna Kotsopoulos, an Associate Professor in mathematics education at Wilfrid Laurier University, and Veselin Jungic exchanged their experiences with teaching and promoting mathematics among Aboriginal students.  Dr. Kotsopoulos  is a co-developer of the LittleCounters TM Program, community-based program to Aboriginal settings.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Mr. Simon Roy has accepted our invitation to do drawings for the animated movie "Small Number and the Skateboard Park". This is great news!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

A new Samll Number story has been created! In "Small Number and the Skateboard Park" our hero solves a difficult geometical problem and learns that skateboarders must know geometry.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Ms. Isabel Deslauriers and Mr. Elliott Corston-Pine
from Let's Talk Science discussed with Veselin Jungic
the possibility about including the resources developed
as part of the Math Catcher Program into the Let's Talk
Science Outreach Program.
Ms. Deslauriers kindly
offered to translate the three existing Small Number's
adventures in French. 

Monday, July 9, 2012

Mr. Khelsilem Rivers from the Squamish Nation has kindly agreed to design the bilingual Nisga'a-English booklet Small Number and the Old Canoe.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Thirty-five participants of the CMS-PIMS Math Camp on the SFU Burnaby Campus attended the presentation titled The Adventures of Small Number.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Adventures of Small Number were presented to the participants of the CMS-PIMS Math Camp on the SFU Surrey Campus. More than 50 high school students followed Small Number in his exploration of mathematics.

Monday, June 25, 2012

The Nisga'a version of the animated film "Small Number and the Old Canoe" has been completed! Ms. Edna Nice from the Nisga'a Nation wrote, "It’s so amazing to see and hear the story come to life through Nisga’a language, very emotional!"

Take a look: https://vimeo.com/44693228

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Two members of the Math Catcher team, Stephani Monkman and Veselin Jungic, volunteered to help Alejandro Ercikson with his presentation. Alejandro's booth was a great success. Hundreds of people of all ages enjoyed making tensegritis and hexasticks or just playing with Alejendro's creations that were at the display. Congratulations, Alejandro and thank you for your continuing participations in the Math Catcher Program!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

In an article titled National Aboriginal Day in Canada, the Math Catcher Program was listed as one of "the ways in which SFU is fostering community, research and student engagement that strengthens Canadian aboriginal peoples’ growth socially, politically, economically and academically." 

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Jessica Humchitt, Alejandro Erickson, and Veselin Jungic visited the Sk'elep School of Excellence, Kamploops, B.C. We were wormly welcomed by the principal, several teachers and a large group of students from Grades 5-7.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn recorded his narration of the Blackfoot version of the story "Small Number and the Basketball Tournament".

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

The Sliammon version of the animated film "Small Number and the Old Canoe" has been completed! Ms. Gail Blaney from the Sliammon Nation wrote, "Wow! This is great! Thank you! What a great resource."

Take a look: http://vimeo.com/43399465

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

The Cree version of the animated film "Small Number and the Basketball Tournament" has been completed! Take a look: http://vimeo.com/43043444

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Look for a description of Math Catchers' visit to Bella Bella by Alejandro Erickson: http://geoburst.ca/stories/what-did-i-know-about-first-nations-anyway

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Stephani Monkman, Alejandro Erickson, and Veselin Jungic visited N'Kwala School, Douglas Lake IR 3, B.C. We met with two groups of students who enjoyed watching Small Number's adventures, asking Stephani about studying at SFU, and building tensegritis.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Sliammon version of the second Small Number story has been included in the Sliammon language segment of the First Voices website: http://www.firstvoices.com/en/Sliammon/story

Oshele from the Sliammon Nation, describes the project in the following way, "This is not a traditional Sliammon story but one that could be told in any First Nations communty. The story appealed to us because of it descriptive language and presented a challenge to translate. The story also has a math focus and we hope to encourage teachers to use it." 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Math Catcher Team visited Alderson Elementary School in Coquitlam, B.C. There they met two groups of very knowledgable and enthusiastic sturdents fro Grades 4 and 5.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

We met with two very keen groups of students at SenPokChin School in Oliver, B.C. 

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Math Catcher Team visited nkmaplqs i snmamayatn ki sqilxwtet Cultural Immersion school near Vernon, B.CHere is a photo:

Monday, April 30, 2012

The bilngual Squamish-English picture book Small Number and the Old Canoe has been printed! The booklet was design by X̱elsílem Rivers of the Squamish Nation.    

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Math Catchers: Jessica Humchitt, Alejandro Erickson and Veselin Jungic visited the Bella Bella Comunity School between April 26-28. We met with a group of teachers and with three group of students. Here is a photo from one of our sessions:

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Ms. Betty Wilson has recorded her narration of the Sliammon version of the story Small Number and the Old Canoe. The Sliammon version was created by Ms. Wilson, Ms. Mabel Harry and Ms. Karen Galligo. 

Friday, April 13, 2012

The world premiere of Small Number and the Basketball Tournament, the third adventure of Small Number, was part of the 7th Annual IRMACS Day. 

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The biligual Blackfoot-English picture book "Small Number counts to 100" is displayed as part of "Celebration of SFU Authors" in the SFU Library foyer.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Veselin Jungic visited Port Alberni. He met with teachers from the Alberni District Secondary School and with several elders and educators from First Nations from the Port Alberni area. Mr. Benson Nookemis, a member of T'apathsi, has agreed to consider telling the story "Small Number and Old Canoe" in the Huu-ay-aht language. Mr. Darrell Ross and his wife Lena will do work on the same story with Kathy Robinson and John Watts to tell it in the Tseshaht language. Finally, Small Number has been invited to visit the haahuupayak school in fall 2012.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Veselin Jungic met with Russ Chambers and Andy Karassowitch from the First Nations School Associations (FNSA) to follow up on the FNSA Board recommendation to include the Math Catcher Program in out of curriculum activities to interested schools. 

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Veselin Jungic talked to the participants of Let's Talk Science, Western Regional Conference about the Math Catcher Program. The title of his presentation was Aboriginal Outreach in Mathematics. After the presentation Veselin met with Ms. Isabel Deslauriers, National Coordinator, Let's Talk Science Outreach. They agreed to explore possibilities of sharing their resources in future.

Friday, February 3, 2012

On Friday, February 3, Jessica Humchitt of the Heiltsuk First Nation, a second year student at the SFU Faculty of Health Science, Alejandro Erickson, an SFU alumnus and a Ph.D. student at the University of Victoria, BC, and Veselin Jungic presented to the Board of the First Nation School Association about the Math Catcher Program. The outcome was what we hoped for, the Board decided to allow us to use their channels to reach members of the Association. This decisions gives us the unique opportunity to promote mathematics in Aboriginal communities across B.C.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Alejandro Erickson and Veselin Jungic visited the Office of the Technology Council of the First Nation School Association and shared with its staff saome of the activities that are part of the Math Catcher program. Everybody enjoyed this experience!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

I am “Small Number” and it was exactly on November 22d of the Year 2009, that I was born in the Canadian Rockies at the intersection of three glacial valleys at a place overlooking the rushing Bow and Spray Rivers ... is the beginning of a posting about the Small Number Project on Professor Nassif Ghoussoub's blog. 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Dr. Eldon Yellohorn has agreed to create a version of the "Small Number and the Basketball Tournament" story in the Blackfoot language.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Mr. Jean-Paul Csuka has finished his drawigs for the "Small Number and the Basketball Tournament" animated film. 

Friday, January 6, 2012

Mr. Barry Cardinal from the Bigstone Cree Nation recorded his narration of the story "Small Number and the Basketball Tournament" in the Cree language. The recording was done in the SFU Teaching and Learning Centre's studio by Mr. Joel Schwarz. 

2011

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Halq'eméylem version of the animated movie "Small Number and the Old Canoe" has been completed and posted on the website. This was possible thanks to Siyamiyateliyot, Kwelaxtelot, Kwosel, and Andy Gavel.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

An article about the Math Catcher Project titled Small Number: Breaking the Pattern and written by Veselin Jungic and Mark MacLean was published in the December 2011 issue of the Notes of the Canadian Mathematical Society, the Society's official newsletter. 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Veselin Jungic has been invited to present about the "Math Catcher: Mathematics Through Aboriginal Storytelling" to the First Nation School Association Board on February 3, 2012.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Our attempt to visit the Bella Bella Community School didn't work out. On December 7, 2011, at 10:45am, a Math Catcher team, Alejandro Erickson, Jessica Humchitt, and Veselin Jungic, left Vancouver, B.C., and arrived to Port Hardy, B.C., one our later. It was a beautiful sunny day in Port Hardy, but there was a patch of thick fog over the Bella Bella airport and the flight to Bella Bella had to be delayed. Around 3:00pm we boarded the plane again and left for Bella Bella. We were told that the fog was still covering the airport but that the pilot would try to land, if possible. Well, he tried, but the fog was too thick and he turned the plane back to Port Hardy. The team arrived back to Vancouver around 6:00pm. 

Math Catcher will visit Bella Bella, B.C. in Spring 2012.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

The SFU News Aboriginal Peoples supplement No. 2 contains a few articles about activities originated by the Math Catcher Project and people that have been involved in the Project. The Project description is given in an article on Page 2 and a note about the Aboriginal Students in Math and Science Workshop is on Page 3. Dr. Eldon Yellowhorne, who translated and narrated the Blackfoot version of the Small Number Counts to 100 story, is portrayed on Page 1 and Ms. Jessica Humchitt, a volunteer in the Math Catcher Program, is portrayed on Page 2.  

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Ms. Laurie Ebenal, District Administrator for Aboriginal Education, has invited the Math Catcher Project to visit schools in School District No. 43 - Coquitlam. Ms. Terri-Mae Galligos, a resource teacher, will assist in organization of the program in ‘pilot’ schools.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Math Catcher Program has been invitied to visit Bella Bella.  On December 7, 2011, Veselin Jungic will meet a group of teachers from the Bella Bella Comunity School to talk about the Math Catcher Project and about promoting and teaching mathematics in general. On December 8, 2011, Jessica Humchitt, Alejandro Erickson, and Veselin Jungic will meet with students for the Math Catcher's activities.

Friday, November 18, 2011

In the SFU EDUC 320 (Instructional Psychology) class students did a specific context assignment paired with watching the film "Small Number and the Old Canoe." Alissa Bick Ehrenkranz, the course instructor, writes, "Although this purposing of art may horrify you, I am hoping that it demonstrates to my students a quest to engage education in creativity where ever the opportunity presents. I hope to see more Small Number adventures in the future."

Thursday, November 10, 2011

John McDonaugh, ABE Instructor, College of the Rockies, writes,"I want to thank you and the team that organized the Aboriginal Students in Math and Science workshop yesterday.  There were some great presentations and it was nice to network with others in the province."

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Aboriginal Students in Math and Science: Situations and Solutions workshop was held on November 8, 2011, in the IRMACS Centre. More than seventy participans from all levels of the British Columbia education system spent one day talking about various issues related to teaching and promoting mathematics to Aboriginal learners. The worksop included the world premiere of the animated movie Small Number and Old Canoe in the Squamish language.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Veselin Jungic visited Hamber Secondary in Vancouver, B.C. and showed the animated movie Small Number Counts to 100 to two groups of students and their teachers. The math problem presented in the movie was discussed in detail.  

Monday, October 31, 2011

On Friday, October 28, 2011, a media release about the workshop Aboriginal Students in Math and Science was posted on the SFU website. The workshop is inspired and partly supported by the Math Catcher Project.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Small Number is getting life on its own. The Squamish version of the animated film has been posted on SquamishLanguage.com web site. The motto of the site is "Reclaiming the Language of the Squamish People".

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The Squamish version of the animated film "Small Number and the Old Canoe" has been completed and posted at http://vimeo.com/30688611. The narrator is T'naxwtn Peter Jacobs from the Squamish Nation. Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Earlier today (Tuesday) we recorded the story "Small Number and the Old Canoe" 
in Halq'eméylem language! The reader was Siyamiyateliyot, an elder from the Sto:lo Seabird Island Nation who also, together with Kwelaxtelot and Kwosel from Seabird Island Nation, translated the story. 

After the recording session, William Lindsay, the Director of the SFU Office for Aboriginal Peoples, kindly invited our Sto:lo guests for lunch. 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

A group of volunteers from the Math Catcher project met with Mr. Alejandro Erickson to learn how to make hexastix. We are looking forward to introduce these beautiful objects to students.

Monday, September 19, 2011

SFU News published an article about the Small Number and the Old Canoe animated film.

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