STEM Resources for Underrepresented Indigenous Students

There are many different ways in which AI can help indigenous peoples and more importantly, youth around the world. Read on to learn about my story.

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My name is Lila Iris Rodríguez-Aceves, an Indigenous female youth interested in the field of science and technology, as well as many other things like sewing, painting, reading, gardening and many others.

I attend Anahuacalmecac International University preparatory of North America (AIUPNA) located in El Sereno, California, a small community in Los Angeles.

Resources for Higher Education

Anahuacalmecac is an Indigenous school focused on providing Indigenous youth with a decolonized education and the resources they need to achieve their goals of higher education.

While being blessed with this opportunity, many other Indigenous youth don’t have access to these resources or environment.

The field in which I wish to pursue STEM isn’t made or provided for Indigenous peoples.

Today, science and computer science is not an accessible field for Indigenous students and youth.

We are not provided with the proper setting, support, or resources that would allow us to learn and flourish in this field. Due to the inequality within education and the field of STEM, indigenous youth are not given support nor opportunities that will allow them to succeed.

Providing spaces and the support that will provide Indigenous youth like me to learn and grow will allow us to more holistically approach solutions now and in the future.

Helping Organizations

Today, many different STEM and computer science based organizations/programs are created to provide students, specifically indigenous youth, with the space needed to create and learn.

Two programs that focus on teaching computer science to Indigenous youth and youth in general are:

https://www.steamconnection.org
https://www.aises.org

These two organizations are providing a space for Indigenous youth to explore and create in the field of computer science.

STEAM Connection is an organization whose goal is to reduce inequalities in the field of STEM by providing Indigenous youth with access to quality technical educational resources.

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society(AISES) is a national nonprofit organization focused on increasing representation of Indigenous youth across the Americas in the field of STEM.

Both of these programs have similar missions that aim to integrate Indigenous youth in the world of science and technology.

These spaces will ensure that Indigenous youth will have the opportunity to fulfill their goals, overturn oppression, help their communities, and solve global problems.