Biskaabiiyaang Featured on CBC News
Biskaabiiyaang Metaverse shares how it is Bridging Anishinaabe Culture and Technology
We are thrilled to share that Biskaabiiyaang was recently featured on CBC News! The spotlight showcases the innovative ways in which our project brings Anishinaabe culture into the digital age. It also goes into detail about how Biskaabiiyaang is not just about technology but about preserving and revitalizing Anishinaabe stories, traditions, and language for future generations.
CBC News Appearance
In a recent interview with CBC's Sara Kanutski, our project's Chief Visionary, Maya Chacaby, took viewers on a tour of the Biskaabiiyaang metaverse. The full video highlights the immersive experience of our virtual world, designed to serve as both an educational tool and a cultural repository.
Maya describes how Biskaabiiyaang allows users to engage with Anishinaabe culture and language through an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) format built by the metaverse platform builders at UniVirtual. This interactive platform not only fosters learning but also provides a safe space for community gathering and cultural resurgence.
Watch the full video interview here.
CBC Radio Interview
In addition, Maya spoke to Mary-Jean Cormier of CBC Radio’s ‘Superior Morning’, where she shared deeper insight into the vision and impact of Biskaabiiyaang’s Indigenous Metaverse.
During the interview, Maya describes Biskaabiiyaang as “a safe space where we can gather together. It is an MMORPG, which means you and your friends ,or whole classes, can come into Biskaabiiyaang and play with the language and the culture."
Maya emphasized the inclusive, community aspect of our project, highlighting the collaborative efforts of the Nokiiwin Tribal Council.
“It's really a community-driven project, and Nokiiwin Tribal Council is leading it. This living archive is where the communities that the Elders, and the youth, and the Knowledge Keepers from these communities have a place to put their teachings and interact with them."
The story behind our project’s name was also shared.
"Biskaabiiyaang has to do with returning home, but it also has to do with the journey that you went on and the fact that home isn't going to be the same. It's also part of Indigenous Futurities, where we are creating something new in this space that we call home."
Listen to the full radio interview here.
Upcoming Appearances
Stay tuned via our social media for details about a third live appearance where Maya shares even more about the progress and future of Biskaabiiyaang. You can also subscribe to our newsletter (link on our homepage!) which is due to send out its first mailing in the next month.
We are incredibly proud of the recognition Biskaabiiyaang is receiving and grateful for the support of our funders, partners, communities, and all those who have shared their excitement for the project with us. This is just the beginning of our journey towards cultural preservation and innovation.
For more information, be sure to visit the official CBC News coverage of Biskaabiiyaang, linked above.