The two teens who captured international attention for Maskwacis by winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize in a global competition in January are leading a student hydroponic garden program at Mamawi Atosketan Native School (MANS). The first harvest—four types of salad greens—took place October 5 at MANS.
The garden attracted much attention on MANS’ registration day earlier this month, including a visit from Chief Wilton Littlechild. Littlechild had attended a dinner put on by Ermineskin Cree Nation and Louis Bull Tribe to celebrate Elias Mykat and Kenyon Bull, who accepted the international Zayed Sustainability Prize on behalf of MANS in Abu Dhabi. The chief had many questions about the hydroponic program and registered his granddaughter Ava, a new Grade 12 student who, along with Mykat and Bull, is one of four keen student leaders of the hydroponic program.
When Bull was asked if he wants to pursue this field after high school, he responded, “I’m definitely considering this for myself, especially because I didn’t realize I could be so good at it. I want other kids to get that same feeling.”
Mykat wants to see his peers experience the same thing. “I hope other kids pick this up and see what we did with it… [see how they can] help people around them too, and see the outcomes they can get from it.”
High school students can receive academic credit in a structured participation program, but the education-focused hydroponic garden is also open to elementary students. It’s overseen by Ray Fankhauser, the former Canadian diplomat who guided Bull and Mykat through their Abu Dhabi trip and 30+ media interviews and industry invitations.
Eight teachers at the kindergarten-Grade 12 school have incorporated the garden into their classes. Many students took home a head of lettuce that was offered as they boarded the school bus at the end of the day.
In the News
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