KIRKLAND LAKE - Dr. David Pearson, who is a well known scholar, who has had his own radio and televisions programs, as well as being a Professor at Laurentian University and key person in the development of Science North, was the keynote speaker at the Northeastern Ontario Mines and Mineral Symposium dinner held in Kirkland Lake.
From the start of his talk when he asked people in the room to imagine they were 12 years old and living in a remote fly in First Nations community, he surprised many in the room with the subject of his talk.
Most of the people attending the dinner were delegates to the symposium and were either directly or indirectly employed in exploration and mining. The tile of Dr. Pearson's talk was Valcanos, Chromite and Hope for the Far North. Based on the title of the talk and Dr. Pearson's background in geology, it was reasonable to expect hear a talk about the history of the mineralogy that makes up the Ring of Fire.
Instead what guests heard was his unique approach to get First Nations children to use their imagination and create an interest in geology, so they would be able to take part in the mining developed that is expected in the coming years.
To back up his point Dr. Pearson showed animated slides to explain how the far north was formed. The story starts with children and their fascination with pebbles and builds on that to get their imaginations triggered, to teach them about how the moon use to be closer to the world and tides could be 30 metres high. That the world was not always the way it is today and how the area they live in now could have been one of the early islands when much of the world was oceans.
He said “it is important to turn on the kids' imaginations.” He continued that you show today's young people rocks and tell them the story connecting today with the past.
To see this idea through Dr. Pearson is developing animated films that are not too fancy, because he wants to keep them “family friendly,” so viewers will be comfortable with them. Some of the topics that would be touched on include, erosion by wind and rain and how this continued erosion brings them down to the rocks of today, like the ones they find on a beach in their own communities.
He said that a glossy fold out of the rocks of today could be developed and used as a teaching tool. As well Dr. Pearson said they have to go in with tools that stimulate kids of today, like digital microscopes that can transmit images to their Ipads and computers.
Another suggestion Dr. Pearson made was setting up aquaponic units in classrooms. This way children could see how the nutrients produced by fish in the bottom of the unit can be used to feed the plants growing above the water. As well because of the material the plants are planted in the children can remove the plants and monitor root mass growth. He said since a head of lettuce in the Ring of Fire area costs about $15 to $17, they may see developing this system into a way to grow their own vegetables. Using this method to grow, it only takes about 30 days to produce a head of lettuce.
Dr. Pearson said, “us going in there three times a year is is only a small part of what is necessary. We have to talk about development of deposits, the education deficit, and must think how this generation can be raised to be leaders – how to produce vice presidents of companies in the future.
He congratulated Noront for the work they are doing in both conversations and actions. Dr. Pearson said these conversations must continue to happen on the ground, they need to go in there and gain the trust of the people because it is important to the youth in these communities