New documentary shares the story of Biskaabiiyaang
We're excited to share a new documentary about Biskaabiiyaang, produced as part of the Connected Minds Team Grant video series.
The film explores how Biskaabiiyaang is bringing together immersive technology, Indigenous knowledge, and community leadership to create an Indigenous-governed Virtual Learning Environment that supports language revitalization, cultural resurgence, healing, and connection.
Rather than imagining technology as something developed for Indigenous communities, the documentary highlights an approach where communities guide the vision, shape the design, and determine how technology serves their priorities. Through reflections from Elders, youth, educators, community members, and project partners, the film shows how Biskaabiiyaang is creating opportunities for storytelling, language learning, cultural teachings, and community connection in virtual spaces.
The documentary also celebrates the partnership between Nokiiwin Tribal Council and York University, demonstrating how research can be built through genuine collaboration and shared decision-making. As Scott Baker, Education Manager at Nokiiwin Tribal Council, reflects in the film, the partnership is about working together to build something meaningful for communities rather than extracting from them.
We invite you to watch the documentary below to learn more about the people, partnerships, and vision behind Biskaabiiyaang.
Biskaabiiyaang is one of several interdisciplinary projects featured in the Connected Minds Team Grant video series. Together, the series showcases how researchers and community partners are co-creating technologies that respond to real-world needs across areas including accessibility, healthy aging, the arts, and Indigenous governance.
You can explore the full Connected Minds Team Grant series, featuring Biskaabiiyaang alongside other community-led research projects, on the Connected Minds website.
About Biskaabiiyaang
Biskaabiiyaang is an Indigenous led metaverse delivering Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) language and First Nation cultural competency programs. In partnership with Nokiiwin Tribal Council, York University, and metaverse builders UniVirtual, Biskaabiiyaang safeguards and shares the living heritage of Indigenous Peoples in an immersive digital environment.
Launched alongside the UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages, the project supports Anishinaabe resurgence by offering Indigenous knowledge, histories, languages, sciences, and philosophies through experiential education. Learners engage with an Indigenized curriculum, connect with Elders in real-time events, and explore a safe, collaborative space, no matter their geographical location.
About Connected Minds
Led by York University in partnership with Queen's University, Connected Minds is a first-of-its-kind research program studying how modern technology affects society, now and into the future. The program brings together researchers, community organizations, industry partners, and knowledge holders to explore how emerging technologies can be developed in ways that advance collective wellbeing, with a significant focus on research collaborations with Indigenous communities.
Acknowledgement
The research was undertaken thanks in part to funding from the Connected Minds Program, supported by Canada First Research Excellence Fund, Grant #CFREF-2022-00010.
Media Contact
Violet Cronin – Marketing & PR, Biskaabiiyaang
violet@univirtual.com