WONDR NATION Expands Partnership with AISES to Bring Culturally Rooted STEM Education to Tribal Youth
New collaboration integrates AISES’ STEM curriculum into Wondr Smart Labs, empowering Indigenous students with hands-on learning that honors culture, community, and innovation
Mashantucket, CT (February 18, 2026)
WONDR NATION, the online gaming and entertainment company owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN), today announced an expanded partnership with the Advancing Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (AISES) to broaden culturally grounded STEAM education opportunities for youth served by the MPTN and Indigenous youth throughout Turtle Island. The collaboration builds on both organizations’ long-standing partnership and shared commitment to empowering Indigenous students through education.
Through this initiative, the AISES STEM Club programming will be integrated into Wondr Smart Labs, WONDR NATION’s youth-focused learning initiative that layers Tribal cultural elements into hands-on STEM education for students. The collaboration will bring AISES’ nationally recognized STEM Club curriculum, including its flagship FIIRE (Fostering Indigenous Innovations in Robotics Education) robotics program, to Wondr Smart Labs sites.
“Wondr Smart Labs was designed to ensure that Indigenous youth see their culture reflected in the future of science and technology,” said Anika Howard, President and CEO of WONDR NATION. “AISES has been a foundational partner in bringing that vision to life. This expanded collaboration allows us to deepen our impact and continue creating pathways for Tribal youth to thrive as builders of the future.”
AISES’ STEM Club curriculum combines computer science, robotics, environmental science, mathematics, and life sciences with Indigenous cultural and knowledge. Lessons incorporate Tribal languages, traditional ecological knowledge, and community-centered problem solving, allowing students to explore coding, data analysis, and engineering through culturally relevant applications. As part of the partnership, AISES will provide training to WONDR NATION staff and Tribal educators, ensuring locally adaptable implementation.
“Partnerships like this are critical to advancing Indigenous representation in STEM in ways that are culturally rooted and community driven,” said Sarah EchoHawk, President of AISES. “WONDR NATION understands that STEM education is most powerful when it honors Indigenous knowledge, values, and identity. Together, we’re creating meaningful opportunities for Indigenous students to see themselves as problem-solvers in their communities and on a larger scale.”
In addition to local programming, WONDR NATION will support AISES’ national platforms celebrating Indigenous excellence in STEM. This includes the sponsorship of the 2026 National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair (NAISEF), the only science fair dedicated to Indigenous students, and participation in the 2026 AISES National Conference, the largest annual gathering of Indigenous STEM students and professionals.
AISES has played a foundational role in the development of Wondr Smart Labs, supporting early curriculum design and helping launch the program. WONDR NATION has also been recognized by AISES with a Tribal Partner Award, underscoring the impact of the collaboration. Together, WONDR NATION and AISES aim to strengthen cultural identity and create long-term educational and career pathways for Indigenous students.
For more information on WONDR NATION, visit wondrnation.com and linkedin.com/company/wondrnation. For more information on AISES, please visit aises.org.
About WONDR NATION
WONDR NATION is an online gaming entertainment company focused on partnering with best-in-class gaming platforms and using emerging technologies and trends to create new and exciting experiences for players. Owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, equality and diversity are deeply engrained into WONDR NATION’s company makeup as well as its ongoing endeavors. With corporate responsibility and sustainable play serving as key driving forces, WONDR NATION is committed to educating players about maintaining healthy user habits, and developing the next generation of gaming professionals through educational programs, vocational training and employment opportunities.
About the mashantucket pequot tribal nation
The Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribe located at one of America’s oldest Indian reservations, Mashantucket, in Southeastern Connecticut. As pioneers of the Indian gaming casino industry, the history of the Mashantucket Pequots reveals one of America’s greatest come-back stories, featured at the Tribe’s world-renowned Mashantucket Pequot Museum. Today, the Tribe owns and operates one of the largest Integrated Resort Casino destinations in North America, Foxwoods Resort Casino, as well as Foxwoods El San Juan Casino, located at the iconic Fairmont El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico. The Tribe also founded Command Holdings, LLC., a federally chartered Section 17 holding company offering expertise in government, healthcare, facilities management, and technology. Other enterprises owned by the Tribe include a world-class golf course, the luxurious Spa at Norwich Inn, Pequot Pharmaceutical Network, and Pequot Plus Health Benefit Services. As one of Connecticut’s highest revenue contributors and largest employers, the Mashantucket Pequots have provided the state more than $4.5 billion in slot revenue through a first-of-its-kind agreement, established in 1993. Likewise, the Tribe has contributed hundreds of millions in donations and sponsorships for the benefit of communities and tribes in need, locally and throughout the U.S. For more information visit, https://www.mptn-nsn.gov.
about aises - advancing indigenous people in stem
For 49 years, AISES has focused on substantially increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in critically needed STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) disciplines. This robust nonprofit currently supports individual student and professional members across the U.S. and Canada through chartered college and university chapters, professional chapters, tribal chapters, and affiliated PK-12 schools. Members benefit from diverse STEM-focused programming that supports careers and promotes student success and workforce development in multiple crucial areas. To learn more visit aises.org.
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