Indigenous astronaut shares space with students at CMHR

Press Release

Schools in 15 remote, northern communities to join virtual session

Winnipeg, Manitoba – January 30, 2019 – Students will get up close with the world’s first Indigenous NASA astronaut tomorrow at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) during a day-long youth event.

Commander John Herrington, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, will share his inspirational story onsite at the Museum with 150 Grade 8 to 10 students from Winnipeg and the Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation, travelling from their community near Swan River, Manitoba.

He then connects via two-way video technology with young people in 15 remote and northern communities* across Canada from Nunavut to the Yukon, the largest virtual session ever held by Connected North – an initiative designed to foster student engagement and enhanced education outcomes in remote Indigenous communities.

Dr. Herrington spent 13 days, 18 hours and 47 minutes in space in 2002, taking his tribe’s flag to the International Space Station. His sessions with students are supported by a partnership between the CMHR and Information and Communication Technologies Association Manitoba (ICTAM) as part of DisruptED, an annual conference presented by RBC Future Launch about the future of work and technology.

WHAT: Indigenous astronaut speaks with students onsite and online

WHEN: Thursday, January 31, Onsite talk at 12:30 p.m., Interview opportunity at 1:30 p.m. ,Virtual session with northern students at 2:15 p.m.

WHERE: CMHR, 85 Israel Asper Way, Access through Group Entrance

During the morning, teams of students will participate in an Instagram challenge to post content promoting human rights messages. The program shows how social media can build empathy, spark change and create active global citizens.

At 1:30 p.m., the event continues with Hannah Taylor of the Ladybug Foundation, who began raising funds for and awareness of homelessness at the age of seven. Her foundation has contributed to more than 60 shelters, food banks and missions across Canada.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Maureen Fitzhenry
CMHR media relations manager

204.289.2112;
Cell: 204.782.8442
maureen.fitzhenry[at]humanrights.ca

Nicole Harris
Maverick Media Solutions

Cell: 204.470.4555
nharris[at]maverick-media.ca

ILR5