The importance of location was highlighted in this module, and I was inspired by the Anishinaabe World in Minecraft, a collaborative project between the Louis Reil Foundation and Microsoft, that “honours, celebrates and explores a Manitoba Anishinaabe community” (Minecraft Anishinaabe World, n.d.). It made me wonder if a similar project could be created that reflects the locality of First Nations on whose territories my school resides. To that end, the Cobblestone Collective offered a more in-depth look at Minecraft and the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge through an Elder led three-part session. The sessions focused on local plants, medicines, traditions that guided cultural practice and allowed students to engage in an immersive experience. It was full of relevant information for an educator looking to expand their use of Minecraft to remove the colonizing focus while responding to the cultural knowledge of their students.
Cobblestone Project three part series: https://cobblestonecollective.ca/manito-ahbee-aki-minecraft-education-edition/
References:
Minecraft Anishinaabe World. Louis Riel School Division. (n.d.). https://www.lrsd.net/What-We-Offer/Pages/Minecraft-Anishinaabe-World.aspx.
Wow, Kate! What a find — super fascinating collaboration effort. An exciting meeting of technology, youth engagement, community involvement, and knowledge sharing. You’re right, would be such a treat to be able to adapt and build these virtual worlds to promote immersive learning experiences in the classroom. Thanks for posting.
This is a great idea! This might be less exciting for students but something like NatureLynx (https://naturelynx.ca/) could be a good way to get students engaged with local ethnobotanical knowledge and place-based learning. I’ve been using for a few years now and love getting my kids involved with findings, identifying, and logging flora and fauna through the app. It’s given me a better appreciation for the land around me. That said, I don’t know if kids would pick it over minecraft!
Hi Jorden. This is a great-thank you for sharing. I bet there is a way to blend the two. Minecraft is always a reward for my students to show off what they know 🙂