Minecraft game lets students explore Manitoba First Nation community pre-colonization

WINNIPEG – It’s a video game first: a new teaching resource will soon be available through Minecraft: Education Edition, connecting students worldwide with the traditional teachings and stories of Manitoba’s Anishinaabe community.

After more than a year of collaboration, Microsoft Canada, Minecraft, and the Louis Riel School Division are releasing Manito Ahbee Aki. The school division says it’s the first Minecraft teaching resource in the world that honours, celebrates, and explores the Manitoba Anishinaabe community.

“By creating space for Anishinaabe culture within this popular virtual universe you are giving voice to Indigenous peoples in an innovative way that I hope will capture the attention of young people across Canada and across the world,” said MP Dan Vandal.

Players entering Manito Ahbee Aki, which translates to “the place where the Creator sits,” will visit a site located in Manitoba’s western Whiteshell area, before European contact in North America.

Chickadee Richard is the voice for one of the characters that students can interact with inside the game. The character provides information to help the students explore and understand the Anishinaabe world.

“Seeing my people and our ways of knowing and being captured in this game and having our traditions and culture told in a good way makes me very proud,” said Richard.

“This is the first time students will be able to interact with an authentic representation of our Peoples’ history and way of life.”

“Projects like this are an example of reconciliation in action,” said Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman. “Seeing our accord partners thrive through partnerships like this is the driving force behind Winnipeg’s Indigenous Accord.”

To build the teaching tool, Anishinaabe knowledge keepers were consulted on how to create a truly authentic experience.

The Anishinaabe digital world includes plants and animals not seen anywhere else in the Minecraft universe.

Students can participate in a bison hunt, learn how First Nations communities and housing were established, and the way of life for the Anishinaabe people before colonization.

“If feels really cool that we get to be a part of this project. It’s really cool to learn about the Anishinaabe people and what life was like here a long time ago,” said Highbury School grade-sixer Kate.

Colin, also a grade 6 student at Highbury, agrees.

“It was really interesting to learn about all of their teachings and things I didn’t know before through Minecraft,” he said.

“My favorite part is there are cameras in the game. And I love going around finding the saw bay and seven teachings, and just being able to take pictures of them,” said Alisha, a fellow grade 6 student at Highbury.