Opening March 23 at TELUS Spark Science Centre, Sacred Defenders of the Universe follows four Indigenous superheroes on an immersive adventure, proving there is a hero inside all of us!
Calgary, Alberta – Imagine a vibrant graphic novel featuring four Indigenous superheroes on a quest to bring balance back to Earth. Then, imagine being part of the adventure as it comes to life in an expansive sensory experience!
Visitors of all ages are invited to join Indigenous superheroes Aqueous (Water), Embers (Fire), Terra (Earth) and Aireus (Aire) in Sacred Defenders of the Universe, a new digital immersion experience opening March 23 at TELUS Spark Science Centre.
Meet the Heroes
The story follows four Indigenous superheroes that connect with the Earth’s four sacred elements: Aqueous, portal keeper of the multiverse, connected to water and the east; Embers, spirit keeper of time travel, connected to fire and the south; Terra, alchemist of sacred geometry, connected to the Earth and the west; and Aireus, keep of star knowledge, connected to the wind and the north. Together, the four superheroes seek to bring back the balance on Earth between humility, respect for the land and the excessive destruction of human ego – showing along the way that there is a hero inside all of us.
The Experience
Inside the Spark Digital Immersion Gallery, a 3,000 square-foot space transforms into a vibrant floor-to-ceiling journey inside a rich graphic novel universe. Through the story, visitors will discover Indigenous science through the Circle of Life, the four sacred elements and directions, and key words in local Indigenous languages.
Visitors will also interact with the digital story elements themselves, growing plants and mycelium, creating waves and wind with their movements, and igniting their senses with sparks and fire.
The Creative Team
This Indigenous story was created by Justin Jack Bear and Earl Benallie, animated by a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, and produced in partnership with Supply and Demand. Aligning with Spark’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, the creative and production teams worked closely with local Indigenous communities and across Turtle Island, as well as the Spark Indigenous Advisory Circle, to connect
the story with local Treaty 7 stories and lands across Turtle Island. RSVP for the Opening Day Media Event: media are invited be some of the first to experience this new digital production at a special event on March 23 at 10 a.m. To RSVP for this event or book an interview with the
graphic novel creators or Spark creative team, please contact media@sparkscience.ca or connect with the
media contacts below.
Learn More About Indigenous Ways of Knowing at Spark: Spark cultivates many ways of knowing and connecting with science, making it more relevant and relatable. Learn more about how Spark incorporates Indigenous ways of knowing into new exhibits, spaces and programs – from the Many Nations, One Voice For Wellness education initiative, to the Blackfoot Skies portable dome theatre movie, partnership with The Moss Bag Project, Spark Indigenous Gathering Place, or past digital immersion shows like Quantum Sandbox. The Sacred Defenders of the Universe digital immersion experience opens on March 23, running until fall 2023, and is included in general admission or free with a Spark Membership. This unique digital immersion project is generously supported by Prairies Economic Development Canada, the Government of Alberta and Canadian Natural Resources Limited. For more information or tickets, visit: www.sparkscience.ca/whats-
on/sacred-defenders-of-the-universe.
About the Calgary Science Centre Society (operating as TELUS Spark Science Centre) TELUS Spark Science Centre, a registered educational charity, exists to entertain and inspire people of all ages through creative encounters with science, engineering, technology, math, and the arts. With roots that go back to 1967 and the opening of the Calgary Centennial Planetarium, Spark is a leader in science education programming and science communications. It is also home to one of the largest dome theatres in western Canada, five large science galleries, and a 15-acre park including a playground built around the science of the developing brain. Learn more about Spark at www.sparkscience.ca.
Land Acknowledgement
TELUS Spark Science Centre acknowledges it is situated on the traditional Lands of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), the Tsuutina First Nation, the Îethka Nakoda First Nation, and more recently Métis Nation of Alberta Region III. Spark recognizes and supports the depth of science within these Lands, Languages, Stories, and Peoples, that have been caretakers of this Land, where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet, their home for
thousands of years.