AbTeC + The Future Imaginary – Dawson College
- Location: Dawson College
- Date: November 27 2022
- Duration: 1 session of 2 hours
- Instructors: Vanessa Racine, Caeleigh Lightning
Overview:
On Tuesday November 27th, AbTeC team members Caeleigh Lightning and Vanessa Racine were invited to Dawson College to present to a group of 40 students on what we do over here at AbTeC and what The Future Imaginary entails.
Caeleigh spoke about the production and journey of her recent game, Mîkiwâm, that won the 2022 New Artist in Digital + Interactive Award at imagineNATIVE. The game was produced by Studio Ekosi, an independent indigiqueer games and animation studio, co-created by Caeleigh and her sister, Keara Lightning. Caeleigh spoke on their experience in engaging with art professionally, and how her dream became reality.
Vanessa spoke about her early beginnings in their own MFA Project, showcasing early prototypes and brainstorming process on what an Anishinaabe video game could look like, if co-created with their nation. Drawing from inspirations by writers such as Lindsay Nixon and Joshua Whitehead, Vanessa spoke about their interest in Anishinaabe paradigms of love, and how the game can use its environment to drive narrative and evoke kinship.
After each of their presentations, students were able to ask Caeleigh and Vanessa questions about their work and motivations. The discussion went thirty minutes over, with more questions trying to get squeezed in! Overall, the students felt empowered to see queer Indigenous creators entering game development and were inspired to pursue their own creative endeavors.
Funded in part by:
