Our Story
By Rabia Naseer
From the start, I viewed my role as connecting people to piece together what is known as exploring wâhkôhtowin. The journey to bringing the board game to life started with meeting Elder Ron Lameman with the Treaty 6 Confederacy.
I was nervous, but with cultural protocol, I asked him if we could meet for guidance. During our coffee meeting, I remembered his wisdom in setting my intentions and why I was embarking on this journey. I knew we needed to improve our Treaty relations, but I wanted to know how. I shared the idea of the board game, but I said if you don’t think this is a good way, you can let me know of something else. He said to me that the idea was intriguing and that it is sad how new immigrants come to the country and, within a week, have a negative Indigenous stereotype.
"The creator gave us two ears and one mouth this means we really need to listen."
He imparted to me a teaching: The creator gave us two ears and one mouth this means we really need to listen.
This has resonated with me in my approach to deeply listening. He said the real story of how Canada came to be needed to be told by Indigenous people and reach a wider audience. Then I remember calling the Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Centre, as I wanted them to partner and share the knowledge, research, and content.
Again, the question was, Is this the best way forward? The IKWC team confirmed they were in support of this. The team started to take shape. The intent was to have Indigenous people lead, design, develop, and own the game on Treaty 6. Finding local graphic designers and board game developers was the most challenging, but through links and searching, we managed to find people. Once you have the right people on board, the intention and conceptualization become much easier. Ownership needs to be in the hands of those with lived experience.
Exploring Wâhkôhtowin is not just a board game; it is the history, story, and lived reality of Indigenous people.
We arranged a pipe ceremony to set the intentions and honour the journey we were going to take. I remember the first time we had Elder Ron Lameman, IKWC Director of Research James Knibb-Lamouche, Norquest Indigenous educators Sara Cardinal and Elliot Young, and Roberta Taylor. We sat around the table and started with the big question: what is the story we want to tell?
In the game “Exploring Wâhkôhtowin,” players embark on an immersive journey through the vibrant cultures and traditions of Indigenous peoples in Canada, inspired by the Cree worldview and rich oral traditions.
The story begins with the players, who represent diverse characters from different cultural backgrounds, arriving in Wâhkôhtowin as new immigrants or travelers seeking to learn and connect with Indigenous culture. However, they quickly discover that the land is shrouded in misconceptions, stereotypes, and misunderstandings about Indigenous peoples.
Their quest is to unravel these stereotypes, break down barriers, and build bridges of cultural understanding. To achieve this, players must engage in a series of challenges, tasks, and encounters that educate and enlighten them about the true diversity, resilience, and beauty of Indigenous cultures.
Slowly, we saw Exploring Wâhkôhtowin Grow. Today, we are launching a website, creating an online game version, and having the board game produced to be available in classrooms. We envision the game being integrated into classrooms across Canada and available to the community. We envision the game sparking conversations across the table on what I can do as a treaty person. We envision people delving deeper into seeking the truth and starting on the journey to act and bring about change.