Wallis and Ross (2021) write that Indigenous VR practitioners have been able to reimagine traditional storytelling in media. Access to resources is a challenge that Indigenous creators are often confronted with. Despite this, Wallis and Ross (2021) state that although Silicon Valley and Hollywood are equipped with the latest VR technology, Indigenous creators have been able to “access, adapt and innovate VR technology” (p. 315) and applying sovereignty to broader media practice.
For this post, I’d like to share three recent ‘case studies’ of Indigenous VR practice:
- The Hunt (2018)
Danis Goulet’s 6-minute VR experience depicts a dystopian, yet hopeful future using live-action 360 video; automated orbs enforce colonial edicts in this future, and Mohawk resistance is portrayed with the mantra ‘Indigenous existence is resistance’ (Wallis & Ross, 2021).
2. Future Dreaming (2019)
This sample serves to demonstrate how VR can reimagine traditional Indigenous practices. The protagonists were asked to think about their futures in 1 week, 5 years and 20 years, then they expressed their thoughts within the VR space; for instance, a future colony that is powered by treadmills and governed by one of the protagonists is imagined (Wallis & Ross, 2021).
3. Crow: The Legend (2018)
Baobab CEO Maureen Fan wanted this project to be community rather than profit-driven, and it was screened at the Gathering of Nations powwow; narrative device is central to this project, and themes of racial harmony and acceptance are creatively explored (Wallis & Ross, 2021).
References
Goulet, D. (2017, April 21). The Hunt test injected [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA90So5eht4
Sutu Eats Flies. (2019, April 17). Future Dreaming – A VR documentary [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq9xAk1CuZY
UploadVR. (2017, April 13). Inside Baobab Studios: Behind the Scenes of Rainbow Crow (VR Animated Film) [Video]. YouTube.
Wallis, K., & Ross, M. (2021). Fourth VR: Indigenous virtual reality practice. Convergence (London, England), 27(2), 313-329. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856520943083
Super interesting, I was actually just listening to a Podcast about “The Hunt” on the otipêyimisiw-iswêwak kihci-kîsikohk, Métis in Space Podcast. They made a point of referencing how the VR might be used to try to shorten the distance between non-indigenous and indigenous people. This could be interpreted as trying to put not indigenous people into the shoes of indigenous people, to which the hosts of the podcast pointed out: “You need to just believe marginalized people when we tell you what were going through”.