Advancing Technology Through Indigenous Collaboration

By Dr. Peter Holowka, Director of Educational Technology, Senior School, and Ms. Brittney Townrow, Head of Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy (JK to 12)

This June, Reuben Lavin ’26 completed an augmented reality project that honoured and extended the learning behind spindle whorl designs created by our grade 5 students. The project began with the novel Hannah and the Spindle Whorl, which introduced students to the spindle whorl as a Coast Salish technology traditionally used for spinning wool into yarn. The carved discs were both functional and deeply meaningful, with designs intended to be seen in motion as the spindle turned.

Learning on Musqueam territory and drawing inspiration from the work of Musqueam artist Susan Point, students created original responses to their learning, considering how pattern, movement and meaning work together. This project grew from a collaboration between Ms. Brittney Townrow, Department Head of Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy (JK to 12), and Dr. Peter Holowka, Director of Educational Technology, Senior School.

Using the students’ artwork, Reuben created virtual and interactive three-dimensional models that allow students to view and rotate their designs as floating objects. The project brings two forms of technology into conversation: one carried through generations of Coast Salish knowledge and one that continues to emerge. Reuben was able to create virtual and interactive 3D models. Reuben did this work using our school's Meta Quest 3s and Unity. The Meta Quest 3 headsets used in this project were made available through a generous donation in 2024 of $20,000 toward our computer science program. 

What makes this project especially impressive is that it was created without external prebuilt software. Reuben was able to create this VR/AR experience entirely himself. The AR/VR Meta Quest 3 headsets are an excellent development environment for emerging technologies, such as the Ray-Ban smart glasses.

Reuben used this project as part of his successful Queen's University Schulich Leader Scholarship application (valued at $100,000). At Queen's, Reuben will pursue a Bachelor of Science (Honours) at the Faculty of Arts and Science. Congratulations, Reuben, on your amazing work at WPGA, and we look forward to seeing what you will do next in your bright future.