Wilfred Buck recognized with King Charles III Coronation Medal
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March 24, 2024 (Winnipeg, MB) – In honour of his considerable contributions, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation alongside nominating partner the National Film Board of Canada proudly announce that Ininew/Cree educator Wilfred Buck has been awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his service to the federal public sector. For over two decades, Buck has been a leading advocate for integrating Indigenous knowledge into science education.
Inspired by ceremony and the wisdom of his elders, Buck has dedicated his career to reclaiming and sharing Indigenous star knowledge as a powerful system of understanding. He has traveled around Canada, bringing these teachings to urban and remote communities through books, online media, and immersive experiences, including his custom portable planetariums. Buck’s influence extends to Ingenium’s spaces, thanks to his co-curation of One Sky, Many Astronomies, an exhibition at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, as well as his collaboration on the virtual international symposium series, Indigenous Star Knowledge, which has drawn thousands of participants on an international scale to come together around the regeneration of Indigenous star knowledge.
One of Buck’s most influential initiatives is the bi-annual “Tipis and Telescopes” event in Manitoba, which blends education, ceremony, and stargazing to create a transformative experience for local communities. His life’s work is the subject of Lisa Jackson’s feature documentary Wilfred Buck, a co-production between Door Number 3 Productions and the National Film Board of Canada. Based on his autobiography titled I Have Lived Four Lives, the film was released in 2024 and won the Canadian Forum Pitch Prize at the Hot Docs Forum.
Ingenium is excited to highlight Buck’s remarkable contributions to science education and Indigenous knowledge in Canada. His recognition with the Coronation Medal underscores his lasting impact on both the scientific and Indigenous communities from coast to coast to coast.
It is humbling to be acknowledged & recognized for the work of love that has been asked of me. I was told by the elders to take this knowledge to our youth and to present it to a wider audience for people to be made aware of the depth of knowledge & intellectual capacity held by Indigenous people throughout Manitoba, Canada & the rest of world…
I would like to congratulate Wilfred Buck for this recognition of a King Charles III Coronation Medal. We are honoured to be part of this important recognition of his lifelong journey towards being one of Canada's most respected science educators. We are incredibly thankful to Wilfred for sharing his knowledge on Indigenous customs and ways of knowing within our museum spaces and programming, bringing an important Indigenous perspective to our visitors.
The National Film Board of Canada is thrilled that Wilfred Buck’s extraordinary life and work is being recognized with a King Charles III Coronation Medal. It’s been an honour to collaborate with Lisa Jackson and Wilfred in producing a film that so powerfully embodies his personal journey and life’s work as an educator and Knowledge Keeper. The NFB is delighted that we were able to partner with Ingenium as co-nominator and that Wilfred’s incredible story will continue to be shared with audiences everywhere.
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Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation
Ingenium oversees three national museums of science and innovation in Ottawa — the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Its lngenium Centre houses an exceptional collection of artifacts, a research institute, and a digital innovation lab. Our museums, digital content, outreach programs, travelling exhibitions, and collaborative spaces help to educate, entertain, and engage audiences across Canada and around the world. Our mandate is to bring science literacy and inspiration to people in Canada of all ages, abilities, identities, and backgrounds.
About the NFB
Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of distinctive, engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 6,500 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.