For my final project I wanted to capture the struggles of the indigenous peoples of Fort McKay, Alberta while shining a light on one strategy often overlooked at engaging youth: videogames.

I believe that while there have been positive changes made to curriculum to become more culturally sensitive, there is still a long way to go. The environment of schooling needs to change, and one strategy which engages many youth, while immersing them in a different virtual landscapes, is gaming.

As First Nations people fight to retain their culture and traditions, we can’t ignore the impacts of white culture upon youth. Embracing technology, videogames could be one method to help draw in youth who struggle to be successful in western approaches to education. Dovetailing videogames with curricula focused on traditional and contemporary indigenous practices could help ensure that the next generation is sensitive to the challenges and pressures that dominant culture puts upon minority groups.

I hope you enjoy my documentary style movie. Due to it’s length (22 minutes) it is captured in two parts. Be sure to set the quality to high resolution to get the maximum experience from this viewing.

To view the full transcript of my movie, with complete set of references, click here.
Mel Burgess.