UTTC STEM

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

STEM Outreach at United Tribes Technical College

How can Indigenous science and western science help us have more sustainable relations with Mother Earth?
How can technology and computer science help Indigenous people maintain sovereignty?
How can we use the knowledge of our ancestors to build more sustainable structures?

Questions like these drive our STEM learning and outreach.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and STEAM incorporates the arts. Both represent an interdisciplinary approach to problem-based learning. STEM focuses specifically on Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics concepts, degrees, or careers. UTTC offers various two- and four-year STEM degrees leading to diverse career paths. We believe art is essential in learning and expressing STEM concepts, so we often use the term STEAM in our program design and descriptions.

Our outreach connects UTTC scientists, engineers, and STEM students with community members on campus, in Bismarck-Mandan, and in tribal communities throughout North Dakota and the Northern Plains to collaboratively build capacity in enhancing food, energy, and water sustainability.

Hands-On

Participants engage in making sense of phenomena via hands on STEM activities to support in school science learning of content knowledge and characteristics of science.

Student Led

United Tribes Technical College students share their knowledge and experience to inform community members and inspire the next generation of Native scientists and engineers.

Collaborative

Our learning environments encourage collaboration to inspire, engage, and inform community members about the research and programs at United Tribes Technical College.

Elder Talks

In 2024, the IRRC partnered with the Sacred Pipe Resource Center to host several storytelling sessions with elders, aiming to learn more traditional STEM knowledge form the knowledge keepers of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Discussions focused on winter survival, animal stories, and recollections from the past shared with the community.

Former Community Advisory Board

We are grateful and honored to be advised by inspiring and encouraging community leaders.

Kimberlee Blevins, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, UTTC ESR Alumni, Sitting Bull Graduate Student

Jeremy McLeod, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, UTTC Engineering Alumni, FAA Engineer

Chadwick Kramer, Standing Rock, Bismarck Public Schools Indigenous Education Coordinator

Lorraine Davis, Sisseton Oyate, Native American Development Center Executive Director

K'lona Lofton, Cheyenne River Sioux, UTTC ESR Student Representative

Kathy Froelich, Sahnish, TSIP External Evaluator, Central Regional Education Association Cultural Coordinator

Former STEM Outreach Leaders

Find some activities they have developed on our STEM at Home Tab

K'Lona Lofton

Cheyenne River Sioux

Environmental Science and Research Alumni pursuing Bachelors Degree

Black Gold, Writing our Stories Youth Program, Nature Trail Development-Milkweed Sign

Tanner Veo

Cheyenne River Sioux

Environmental Science Student

Nature Trail Development-Cottonwood Sign

Amanda Pond

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Elementary Education Student

2022 Science in the Summer

Indigenous Boats, Sphero Painting, Maker Space

Marlin Chase

Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara

Pre-Engineering Alumni

3..2..1..Takeoff

Straw Architecture

Taylor Brugh

Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara

Pre-Engineering Alumni

Innovative Structures

Straw Architecture

Kaitlyn Enno

Turtle Mountain

Elementary Education

2021 Science in the Summer

Jana Blue Arm

Cheyenne River Sioux

Elementary Education Alumni

Penology Friday

Batwomen and the Dark Night

Heather Follette

Former Sustainable Agriculture Student

Seasonal Plant Walk

Trenton Chalmers

Standing Rock Sioux

Environmental Science and Research Student

Interpretive Trail Development-Events and Rabbit Sign

Former STEM Outreach Assistants

Jayce Archambault, Standing Rock Sioux, Pre-Engineering

Berlin West, Environmental Science and Research

Brett Alberts, Environmental Science and Research

Ayanna Maynard, Cheyenne River Sioux, Sustainable Agriculture

Shotay Waters, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Elementary Education

Indika Dreamer, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Elementary Education

Baileigh Bradey, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Elementary Education

Daniela Aki, AISES Member, Business Administration

UTTC community outreach is supported by NSF TCUP Grants 1953864 and 1839895 with additional support from Crestwood, Inc.

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