From an article I wrote back in 2024:
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We drove out to the Summer Saskatchewan Star Party in 2006. We arrived on site and had one of the best star party experiences ever.
Part of it may have been due to questions from others.. what are those pad like thing on your scope, where we replied.. antidew heaters… they said whats that? dew? 🙂 It was such low humidity that there was no dew. ever.
Part of it may have been due to the campsite washroom facilities.. Wow Extraordinary! Clean, flush, cleaned several time each day! It was * a joy* (reference early years of FallNStars at Camp Saganoska for comparison!!!!!)
But the highlight of it all was Wilfred Buck. He is an Indigenous Star Lore Expert who told stories accompanied by Drumming late in the evening in the dark. It was surreal and chilling all at the same time.
In 2022 he was awarded: CASCA and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada are pleased to announce that Wilfred
Buck is the recipient of the 2023 Qilak Award for Astronomy Communications, Public Education and Outreach.
My news alert just picked up this story today:
Today, on Good Medicine with Wilfred Buck…
We embark on a voyage through Indigenous Star Lore!
Wilfred shares his journey of rediscovering Indigenous astronomy and incorporating it into education. He highlights the importance of recognizing diverse perspectives in astronomy and the interconnectedness of all cultures. Buck discusses teachings from the sky, such as the alignment of stars mirroring the structure of a sweat lodge, and the story of how humans acquired dogs. He emphasizes the need to listen to the stars and learn from them.
Today’s exploration highlighted the significance of acknowledging diverse viewpoints in astronomy, grasping the interconnectedness of cultures worldwide, drawing wisdom from celestial teachings, and integrating Indigenous wisdom into educational frameworks.
Remember Wilfeds wise words, “Every culture had the good idea to go outside at night and look at the sky” and “We come from that sky world”.To learn more about the amazing things Wilfred Buck is sharing, please visit https://acakwuskwun.com
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And more recently.. we ran across a reference to him at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, the residence of the Governor General of Canada.
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Just a reminder that if you have not seen it yet, please check it out . You will need a free cbc GEM account to view.
https://gem.cbc.ca/absolutely-canadian/s25e15
Absolutely Canadian is a national one-hour series showcasing documentaries and performance programs that tell unique stories from communities across Canada. All programs are produced locally.
Dark Skies. Aired on December 5, 2025. Duration of 44 minutes. Rated Exempt. Offered with Closed Captions and Described Video. This content is only available to our signed in members. (Register or sign in)
Light pollution is drastically dimming the night sky around the globe. Watch as two amateur astronomers go on a quest to save a slice of the sky for starwatchers now, and forever.
Also related is a great portrait of Wilfred at the Governor Generals Rideau Hall.
