Wabano Aki, which means tomorrow’s land in Anishinaabe, will be used for agriculture, conservation, cultural and spiritual purposes by Indigenous communities.
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When reflecting back to the Indigenous teachings of our childhood, we all remember the curriculum. But with current knowledge, we know those teachings were not an accurate reflection of what happened during the period of disruption. History was an entirely different story.
But a new collaboration is seeking to change that.
With the launch of Manito Ahbee Aki, a new world in Minecraft: Education Edition, players get to explore and celebrate Anishinaabe culture from Manitoba’s western Whiteshell area. Microsoft Canada partnered with Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) to create an authentic experience that would go beyond any textbook, consulting the LRSD Indigenous Council of Grandmothers and Grandfathers (CGG) along with Frank Deer, LRSD Scholar in Residence, and Knowledge Keepers from the Manitoba Anishinaabe community.
It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a decade since Minecraft was first fully released. In the years since, the influential game has expanded to mobile devices and consoles, cementing itself as a true cultural mainstay.
Today, the game remains popular as ever as sales officially topped $200 million and monthly players climbed to 126 million this past year. Minecraft has also found a new home in the past years, as a teachable tool.
Minecraft: Education Edition is free for students and educators in Canada and features more than 50 lessons in the STEM curriculum teaching problem-solving and collaboration in an environment where many children already feel at home. Now, Minecraft: Education fans have an exciting new world to look forward to.