Thunder VR

The Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) has partnered with an augmented and virtual reality company called Mammoth to create Thunder VR, an immersive language preservation and culture learning tool. The virtual reality game, based on a Blackfoot graphic novel called Thunder, tells the ancient Blackfoot story of a man who loses his wife and must travel a great distance to challenge the spirit of Thunder (Ksistsikoom) to get her back. Thunder was developed by USAY youth and https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/blood-kainai elder Randy Bottle (Saakokoto). The high-tech game, narrated by Saakokoto, is designed to teach the endangered Blackfoot language to a new generation of learners and is being advertised as a “mash-up” of tradition and technology. USAY and Mammoth, two Calgary-based organizations, have received funding from the Government of Canada and are planning to take Thunder VR, along with 27 Oculus Go headsets, to Calgary schools in fall 2019. Thunder VR is available as a free download on Oculus Go.

Thunder VR is a virtual reality tool developed to preserve and teach Blackfoot language and culture through an immersive, tech-based educational experience.• Tech Literacy & Accessibility: Thunder VR combines traditional Blackfoot storytelling with VR technology, promoting tech literacy while preserving Indigenous language and culture.• Reducing Harm in New Media: By bridging tradition and technology, Thunder VR counters the risk of cultural erasure, offering an accessible, engaging platform for learning.• Data & Knowledge Stewardship: Thunder VR safeguards Blackfoot knowledge and language for future generations, promoting cultural preservation through immersive digital experiences.