Regional Science Fair 2026

[Updated] Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 – Youth from around iiyiyiu aschii visited the sports complex in Waswanipi to compete in the Cree School Board (CSB) Regional Science Fair.

All youth who competed in Waswanipi pictured at the awards banquet.

Each year, youth from all nine communities within iiyiyiu aschii gather for the Science Fair competition. This year, students worked on projects that showcased the various interests and ideas CSB students are passionate about. Interesting projects that highlighted iiyiyiuiyihtiwin included:

• Comparing Goose Calls: Human vs AI,
• How Kinetic Energy Moves a Boat, and
• Magnet Safety (A research project on the best way to clean the beaches in and around iiyiyiu aschii).

“It’s our pleasure this year to host the Regional Science Fair,” said Willie J. Happyjack Memorial School Principal Paul Starnino;

“It’s a really great opportunity to be able to showcase the talent [at both the elementary and secondary levels of the CSB] and really show the innovative ideas that our students are able to showcase through their projects — to have all of the students in iiyiyiu aschii come together and share their ideas and work with us and their peers — there were some really great projects!”

Well done to all 50 participants in this year’s Science Fair, and congratulations to the winners of this year’s competition. Good luck to the following students who will move on to compete at the Quebec Indigenous Science Fair, taking place March 24 to 26, 2026 in La Tuque, Quebec:

• Grade 5 English: Turning Trash into Treasure: Recycling Breakfast Club Waste at Badabin by Nathania Brown of Whapmagoostui. This project received 2nd position at La Tuque.
• Grade 5 French: Le Système Solaire by Aube Jolly and Pascal Jonah of Waskaganish. This project received the Scientific Development Award at La Tuque.
• Grade 6 English: How kinetic energy moves a boat by Charly-James Sanipass of Waswanipi, who won 2nd position in his category at La Tuque.
• Grade 6 French: Tyshawn Gilpin-Blacksmith and Xavier Wiechold (Waswanipi)
• Secondary 1 English: Long, Long Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away by Henry Grimstead of Chisasibi. Henry received second place in his category and was given the Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF) Prize at La Tuque, where he advanced with two other projects to the CWSF in Edmonton, Alberta in May 2026. Henry came home from CWSF with a bronze medal – Congratulations, Henry!
• Secondary 2/3 English: Comparing Goose Calls: Human Vs Al by Gilbert Swallow and Junayshia Waapikun Voyageur of Mistissini. This project won second place in their category and won the Heritage Cultural Award of Excellence at La Tuque.
• Secondary 4/5 English: The antioxidant effects of Indigenous Medicinal Plants: Linking their ability to reduce oxidative damage Nathaneal Brown of Whapmagoostui. Nathaneal won 2nd position in his category at La Tuque.