first nations first 

Biskaabiiyaang adheres to The First Nations Principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession – more commonly known as OCAP®. These principles assert that First Nations have control over data collection processes, and that they own and control how this information can be used. OCAP® is a registered trademark of the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC). Learn more at https://fnigc.ca/ocap-training.

meaningful memories

To create the landscape of the virtual world, the Indigenous Youth Council are surveying and recording local land in ways that are meaningful to them—a location where they fished with a family member or learned a new skill, perhaps. They are photographing and recording real-world places linked to memory and Indigenous ways of being. All data collected is personal and significant.  

Every plant, tree, rock, river, or vista in the world of Biksaabiiyaang will have a story. Stitching those stories together will create a richer, more meaningful virtual landscape for players to explore. 

ownership & access

The stories and teachings in Biskaabiiyaang are permanently housed by the Nokiiwin Tribal Council. They hold the knowledge and information generated for this project and ensure it is accessible and freely available to the Indigenous community. To access these materials, please contact the Nokiiwin Tribal Council.

respecting traditional knowledge  

All quests, storylines, and dialogue in the Biskaabiiyaang metavese are adapted from Indigenous oral histories provided by Anishinaabe community Elders. These Elders have not only gathered to share their knowledge, but they have also improvised scenes, written scripts for in-game interactions, and provided essential context to aid in interpreting traditional stories for modern audiences. Biskaabiiyaang is a unique opportunity for knowledge holders to share and preserve their expertise in a creative new way that appeals to younger generations.  

open opportunities

Through our partnership with York University, anyone who completes the Biskaabiiyaang virtual course can receive a micro-credential in Cultural Competence and Trauma-Informed Practices.

This micro-credential is offered to any interested individual, organization, or agency through the Continuing Education Program at Glendon Campus. To learn more, please contact Glendon Continuing Education.

supporting students

For ten years, Professor Maya Chacaby has worked with her students at York University to develop, refine, and test lesson plans and learning games that meet the needs of second-language learners.

Together, they have identified key learning objectives that could be achieved through a gamified approach to Indigenous language learning. Discovering which peer-based activities worked best for them meant they could use these gamified practices to learn difficult content (such as grammar) ineasier, more memorable ways. Learn more about Professor Maya Chacaby.