Walking the Path: Reflections from Biskaabiiyaang
The journey to returning home is taken step by step. As the Biskaabiiyaang project continues to grow, we wanted to share what has been happening and who has joined us along the way.
What happens outside the virtual world of Biskaabiiyaang is just as important as what’s happening within it. Progress in this project happens around a fire, while dancing, walking forest trails, or while listening to stories passed from one generation to the next. It also happens in classrooms, during language and technology lessons, and in conferences and journals. Step by step, moments like these are shaping Biskaabiiyaang into something that belongs to the communities creating it.
Youth exploring character design and 3D design technology
Growing through relationships
Biskaabiiyaang has always been guided by a simple principle: community comes first. Everything we create begins with relationships with Elders, youth, Knowledge Keepers, language speakers, educators, and families. Their voices shape the stories, language, activities and direction of the project. Every conversation adds something new to our virtual world, and every gathering strengthens what we are building together.
So far, some of the steps taken on the Biskaabiiyaang journey have included:
71 community gatherings
71 ceremonies and traditional teachings
54 workshops
24 sharing circles
12 conferences and 3 conference publications
15 presentations sharing the project with wider audiences
2 open-access journal articles
2 courses and education programs designed as supplemental resources
Youth exploring digital design technology
Young people imagining the future
Young people continue to be at the heart of Biskaabiiyaang. Through camps, Youth Council meetings and hands-on activities, Indigenous youth are helping create the world of Biskaabiiyaang. More than 2,000 young people have now taken part across Biskaabiiyaang and within the Junior Spirit Builder and Sweetgrass Warrior activities, while 74 youth have directly contributed to research and game design activities.
Together they're designing characters and quests, exploring storytelling, sewing ribbon shirts, experimenting with digital tools, and shaping the virtual world alongside Elders and community researchers.
Every new idea helps shape a world that reflects community values and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Kindness Words Display
Giant Sweetgrass Cards
Water Walk Jacket
Carrying kindness into communities
Through the Sweetgrass Warrior initiative, teachings about kindness and community continue to reach schools, youth groups and organizations across the Robinson Superior region and beyond.
Since January 2024, these activities have reached 25 schools and youth groups, with over 60 Sweetgrass teachings being shared. These conversations remind us that learning begins with relationships, language, and with community.
3D scan of teepee for metaverse model
Growing together
As Biskaabiiyaang grows, so too does the community of people helping to carry it forward. Today, 14 Knowledge Keepers continue to guide the work, researchers are helping lead activities from within Nokiiwin communities, and project leadership remains grounded in relationships rather than hierarchy. This has always been about building capacity within community to create opportunities for people to learn together, lead together, and shape the future together.
The journey continues
There is still much road ahead to walk. Biskaabiiyaang continues to create new quests, to strengthen Anishinaabemowin throughout the world, support youth-led design, and learn alongside Elders to find new ways to share teachings with others.
Miigwech to everyone who continues to walk this journey with us. If you’d like another way to join us, we invite you to subscribe to the Biskaabiiyaang newsletter. Our first edition is due to be sent soon!