Amazon Canada and TakingITGlobal, a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on global issues through outreach and engagement with the world’s youth, have released the 2023 edition of Your Voice is Powerful.

“Your Voice is Powerful” is a training program and remix competition that teaches high school students coding skills using music composed by Indigenous artists. Following its success last year reaching over 5,000 students, it will be expanded in 2024 to include new songs by Twin Flames artists and an enhanced curriculum that uses music and technology to promote social justice.

The Your Voice is Powerful program is free for teachers and high school students.

The lesson plans include eight modules that teach the fundamentals of coding while also exposing students to discussions about the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis experiences in Canada, including topics such as boarding schools, the Year Scoop 60, and the 94 Recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Students remix the music of Indigenous artists Jayli Wolf, Dakota Bear, Samian and Twin Flames using EarSketch, an online code editor available in English, French, Ojibway and Inuktitut. All contestants are encouraged to submit their remixes to a contest where two winners — one Indigenous and one identifying as an Ally — will receive a $5,000 Canadian prize offered by Amazon. Finalists will receive Amazon gift cards and an outstanding teacher will receive a $1000 prize.

A recent Conference Board of Canada report estimates that less than two percent of people working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are Indigenous. The 2023 edition of this program can help change that by making skills like coding more accessible to communities.

The program was developed by TakingITGlobal, with years of collaboration that required many hours of consultation and review. The University of British Columbia (UBC) Cloud Innovation Center, a collaboration between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and UBC, facilitated connection with Indigenous experts, students, and alumni.

“Your Voice is Powerful exceeded all expectations in 2022 as thousands of teachers and students across Canada showed tremendous enthusiasm for combining a unique technological learning experience with reflection on Indigenous and Canadian stories,” said Anishinaabe educator Christine M’lot , who led the program development on behalf of TakingITGlobal.

Ms. M’lot adds that the goal of the program this year is to add new stories and experiences, as well as music, from First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists to attract new participants and help previous cohorts expand their technological to develop skills.

Jayli Wolf, one of the Indigenous artists whose music is used in the program, says it will help introduce more Indigenous peoples to STEM subjects.

“I am very excited to be a part of Your Voice Is Powerful again this year. It is critical that we fill the gaps in the STEM economy for indigenous peoples. The program advances Indigenous youth with a focus on education through the creative process of encoding with music. »

For the original article see IT world Canadaa sister publication of computer science direction.

French adaptation and translation by Renaud Larue-Langlois.