Video game enthusiasts and those passionate about the Mi'kmaw language and culture have something to smile about. Green Robot Studios, hailing from Sydney, Nova Scotia, is preparing to roll out its exciting new PC video game, set for release at the end of 2024. Titled Kun'tewiktuk - A Mi'kmaw Adventure, the name is the Mi'kmaw term for "place of the rock," which reflects the game's deep roots in the Mi'kmaw heritage.
Players will travel thousands of years back to experience the tale of siblings Wasuek, which translates to "flower," and U'n, meaning "fog." The two characters find themselves apart, and it’s up to the players to help Wasuek reunite with her brother. Their adventure takes place across the stunning landscapes of Cape Breton and incorporates elements from Mi'kmaw folklore, making the experience educational as well as entertaining.
The brain behind this innovative project, Shawn Green, leads Green Robot Studios. While not of Indigenous descent, Green has dedicated his career to developing educational games focused on Cape Breton’s rich history. He noted the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted his work, prompting him to pivot from creating museum-based educational games to designing video games suitable for public play, all the more aiming to preserve and promote culture.
To assure the Mi'kmaw language and culture are portrayed authentically, Green joined forces with Kji-Wikuom Studios, located within the Eskasoni First Nation. This audio/video engineering studio has made it their mission to preserve and revitalize the Mi'kmaw language. Green described the partnership as serendipitous, blossoming from an early phone conversation with Tom Johnson, the studio's founder. "I said to him, 'We're in the early stages of developing a video game based on Mi'kmaw legends and lore.' He replied, 'I'm starting up a recording and production studio dedicated to Mi'kmaw culture and language and storytelling,'" Green recounted. From there, their collaboration flourished.
Thanks to Kji-Wikuom’s contributions, the development team gained access to invaluable resources, ranging from language consultation and audio recordings to casting and community outreach. Green emphasized, "We wouldn't have done the project without such collaboration." Janaya Paul, who hails from Eskasoni and serves as the studio coordinator at Kji-Wikuom, remarked on the game's significance as it aims to attract younger audiences. "It's innovative—a new approach to convey our language, stories, and history," she said.
The upcoming game has started making waves at prominent gaming events, including Game Con Canada held in Edmonton, and the prestigious Gamescom held in Germany, attracting around 335,000 attendees. Tristan Johnson, another Mi'kmaw from Eskasoni and audio-video editor at Kji-Wikuom, showcased their project at both events, receiving positive feedback. Notably, anthropologists at the Gamescom were captivated by the game’s unique role in enriching language preservation, with Johnson noting, "They were fascinated to learn about the language’s endangered status; any form of record for such languages is immensely valuable."
Being part of this project carried personal weight for Johnson as he felt it deepened his connection to his own heritage. "Even my participation, listening to fluent speakers during production, connected me more strongly to my roots," he expressed. The development team continues to work diligently, focusing on packaging and preparing for the game’s upcoming release, bringing with it hopes of educating players about Mi'kmaw culture through engaging gameplay.
