I-STEAM Pathways: Environmental Education Program for Indigenous Students

Enabling First Nations, Métis or Inuit undergraduate students to gain research experience in environmental fields including science, environmental engineering, environmental law and policy.

I-STEAM Pathways: Environmental Research Internships for Indigenous Students

Providing research experience for First Nations, Métis and Inuit undergraduate students in environmental fields including science, environmental engineering, environmental law and policy.
Fostering systemic change through the incorporation of Indigenous values and worldviews in environmental policy and planning.

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Internship applications

All First Nations, Métis and Inuit undergraduate students attending a Canadian post-secondary institution are eligible to apply. Applications for the 2025 internship program will open here in December 2024.

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Giving and Donors

I-STEAM Pathways relies on public and private sponsors to help support and scale the program. Learn more about how you can donate.

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About

2024 Empowering Indigenous Youth Environmental Research For A Sustainable Future

Voices of I-Steam Pathways Indigenous Interns in The Summer of 2024

This summer, 22 highly energised and engaged Indigenous undergraduate interns from a wide range of Indigenous communities including Wolf Lake, Algonquin, Carry the Kettle, Saddle Lake, Sucker Creek, the Metis Nation of Alberta, Saskatchewan Metis Nation, Berens River Manitoba, and Lac La Biche completed the program. They engaged in a wide range of environmental research projects that included soil carbon storage in grasslands, innovative technologies to monitor water quality and to improve the recycling of plastics, the natural resistance mechanisms of lodgepole pines to mountain pine beetles, sustainable local food production in remote communities, permafrost analysis, and much more!

This video contains snippets of their experiences as they and their supervisors carried out exciting and highly-relevant environmental research that addresses critical issues facing communities today.

Testimonials

The talk from the elder was a very enriching experience and one that I did not expect to have given the circumstances of COVID-19. It was really humbling. Ray is also a wealth of knowledge who I enjoyed learning a lot from. Having community members speaking to us directly regarding their experiences working with academia and the government was an important part that should be included every year.

Carter Kuiper, 2020 intern

During my summer with I-STEAM, I had the opportunity to research with Dr. Ran Zhao’s lab. This experience allowed me to pursue various research projects throughout the summer, and present my findings at a scientific conference at the end. Dr. Zhao has guided me to pursue a MSc in Forest Biology and Management focusing on Wildfire Management at the University of Alberta. The interdisciplinary nature of this internship allowed me to gain experience that will be useful throughout my academic career and professional life.

Carter Kuiper, Bigstone Cree Nation, 2020 intern

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