The organizers of this year’s Anangokaa Festival, an annual gathering committed to making space exploration accessible to all, are shooting for the moon. Aiming to host around 500 to 1,000 Indigenous youths at the educational and professional development gatherings in Timmins, Ontario and on the traditional grounds of the Mattagami First Nation from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2, 2024.
“The goal of the festival is more representation of space in the north, and to celebrate Indigenous culture in the space industry,” says Matthew Gallina, Chief Business Development Officer for Anangokaa.
Meaning “there are many stars” in Anishinabeg, Anangokaa is the new name for the Stardust Festival, and it continues in the goal of that event to introduce Indigenous students from throughout Northern Ontario to opportunities available to them in the aerospace industry.
The festival will bring together community leaders, elders, and members of the space industry to take part in Indigenous practices such as living on the land, smudging, beading, and community feasts.
At the same time, it will encourage career exploration for Indigenous students, with hands-on demonstrations of space-related technologies and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) opportunities.
Attendees can look forward to speakers, workshops, demonstrations, and competitions.
The name change in part reflects the greater focus on connecting the conference to the Indigenous culture of Northern Ontario.
“Instead of one day of Indigenous celebrations, we're going to have Indigenous culture and Indigenous language, celebrated throughout the duration of the festival,” says Gallina.
The program also is expanding beyond purely a focus on space, and is also welcoming those interested in related high-skill trades such as IT, manufacturing, entrepreneurship and more.
“We need to enhance the range of opportunities in the northern region, particularly in a region that relies heavily on projects,” says Tim Harvey, CEO of Mattagami Aki. “Connecting transferable skills and education to the aerospace industry further bolsters the Northern Ontario Economy.”
Gallina adds that the program aims to build a pipeline of sustainable supports for student’s educational journeys.
“It's an outgoing network of educational resources from people that have been there, done that, and want to support the next generation,” he says.
The event runs from Friday, Sept. 27 to Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
The festival’s events will be split between Timmins, Ontario and on the traditional grounds of the Mattagami First Nation.
Anangokaa founder and Stardust CEO Jason Michaud, a native of Dubreuilville, Ontario, became the maverick of the family when he decided he didn’t want to follow his father and grandfather into a career as a miner.
“He pursued his love of computers and space,” explains Gallina. “He made connections with the space industry and all the major organizations related to space in Canada.”
But instead of heading to Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal to work at their headquarters, Michaud has dedicated himself to working to build a hub for space exploration in Northern Ontario—of which the Angangokaa Festival is a central pillar.
“Stardust is committed to making space exploration accessible,” Michaud says. “We believe that each of us has the potential to shape the future of humanity and make a meaningful contribution to our journey to our stars.”
The official schedule has yet to be released, but the program will include a visit to Mattagami First Nation where visitors can take part in Indigenous cultural activities. Attendees can take part in a career fair targeted to high school and post-secondary students as well as a Speakers’ Summit (including mentoring workshops), as well as STEM+ demonstrations and competitions, featuring rovers, robotics and rocketry.
“We highly value the opportunity to highlight the associations and partners that have contributed to the success of Stardust Industries for the benefit of our younger generations,” says Harvey. “Providing them with the chance to connect with industry experts and gain insight into mentorship, career paths, educational trajectories, and current prospects is immensely valuable.”
In honour of National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30, the program will also include ReconciliACTION workshops as well as a community feast.
“At these workshops, leaders and practicing Indigenous allies are going to work with decision makers at different organizations to try and create a support system in the workplace that’s culturally aware, but also culturally effective,” says Gallina.
This year, the festival will be live-streamed through the festival website, so viewers around the world can watch.
Thanks to the generous support of sponsors and the community, it is free to students who want to attend. For those traveling more than 100km to get to the festival can have even the costs of their transportation covered by the festival organizers.
The festival is offering a range of sponsor opportunities for businesses and individuals interested in supporting its work. On Friday, July 12, the organizers will be hosting a charity golf tournament at Hollinger Golf Club in Timmins, with all proceeds going toward the festival.
There are also a range of sponsorship packages available, providing organizations with a range of offerings including networking opportunities with Indigenous leaders, social photo booth wallpaper and significant presence at the career fair.
Those interested in learning more about the sponsorship options or the festival in general, can contact Matthew Gallina at matthew.g@stardustinc.ca
