Turtle Island meets Fortnite

On November 13, Elders and educators gathered with the MFNSS Education Technology facilitator and Language and Culture team to inform and record creation stories in Anishinaabemowin for Turtle Island Trials*, an MFNSS-created storyline for Fortnite. Fortnite is a popular video game among young players that features an open world and online multiplayer gameplay with other users. Students may be aware of current gaming modes, such as story, battle, and racing modes. The Turtle Island story gameplay in Fortnite is in development with Logics Academy and New Media Mantioba, as a language learning resource for MFNSS students. The game offers learning in cultural capacities, introducing students to creation stories and legends, and increasing Anishinaabemowin learning and exposure. Due to differences in dialects, the spoken and written expression of Anishinaabemowin may differ from community to community and across provinces.  To put forth language learning content in the game, Elders and educators formed a round table to consult with one another, the MFNSS instructional teams and Logics Academy on the best way to present Anishinaabe creation stories that can be understood across communities and dialects of Anishinaabemowin.

MFNSS would like to thank educators apart of the recording sessions Frank Beaulieu, Judy Doolittle, Shirli Ewanchuk, Josephine Hartin, John McLean, Wanda Nelson, and Derek Prince. And an additional thank you to participants in the session Principal Wendy McPherson, teachers and staff from Sergeant Tommy Prince School, and William Young from Miskooseepi School.