Looking to the Stars: Pabineau Elders Share Indigenous Astronomy

A recent National Geographic article exploring Indigenous astrotourism experiences highlights the powerful work of Cynthia Sewell, an Elder from Pabineau First Nation in northern New Brunswick, and her sister Elder Constance Sewell, who continue to share Mi’gmaq star knowledge with wider audiences.

For generations, Indigenous communities have observed the night sky not just for navigation, but as a guide for seasonal changes, medicine gathering, and understanding the rhythms of life. Through storytelling and cultural teachings, these star stories continue to connect people with the universe and with one another.

“Our people were very much astronomers,” Cynthia Sewell explains. “This was our survival. We observe how the universe is moving very closely, and it tells us when our medicines are going to come, tells us the best time to pick our medicines—not from a narrow lens of isolation, but from it living—how the universe is moving, how we're moving with the cosmos.”
— Cynthia Sewell, quoted in National Geographic

These teachings reflect a worldview where the movements of the cosmos are closely connected to life on Earth. Observing the stars helped guide everything from harvesting medicines to understanding seasonal changes.

Cynthia Sewell also notes that modern science is beginning to recognize what many Indigenous teachings have long expressed — that humanity has a deep connection to the cosmos. As NASA often explains, we are all made of “star stuff.”

Through events organized alongside astrotourism consultant and amateur astronomer Stéphane Picard of Cliff Valley Astronomy, the Sewell sisters share Mi’gmaq star stories through immersive cultural experiences that may include storytelling, ceremony, and traditional drumming.

“Our Indigenous drumming … is mimicking the heartbeat of the universe,” explains Constance Sewell. “We're mimicking the heartbeat of ourselves, how our connection is with the universe.”
— Constance Sewell, quoted in National Geographic

These experiences help people reconnect with the night sky through Indigenous ways of knowing, offering a deeper understanding of how culture, land, and the universe are intertwined.

The Sewell sisters will continue sharing these teachings through future gatherings planned for 2026, helping ensure that Mi’gmaq star knowledge remains alive for future generations.

🔗 Read the full article from National Geographic:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/indigenous-astrotourism-experiences