Michif Minecraft Gallery

Known as "amisk" in the Michif language, beavers are an important animal in the ecosystems they inhabit, and were historically important to the Metis for their pelts that they would trade. 

A traditional beaver trap players will set and use to trap beaver in this experience.

One of the most challenging entities I've had to create over the years. While not technically challenging, I needed to balance this design in a way that was generally accurate to the trapping experience, yet depicted sensitively for younger audiences. 

A Bison, one of many that make an appearance in the bison hunting activity in this experience. A recurring theme in indigenous teachings is that we "take only what we need", hunting and trapping sustainably, and honour the animal that has made the sacrifice.

The white bison is a rare variation of the common bison. It is considered very special by the Métis, and is not hunted. Prior to this project I was unaware that bison (interchangably called buffalo by many) are in fact not related to the buffalo at all. Buffalo are only found in Africa and Asia. 

With the exception of indigenous experiences, depictions of dead animals is prohibited in Minecraft Education. Working on an indigenous build as a non-indigenous person, I again had to work really hard to create an authentic depiction that was sensitive to younger audiences. 

As in real life, you can journey through the experience by riding an ox pulled Red River Cart. These carts were used to transport goods across the prairies during the fur trade era. These carts were notoriously noisy, and could be heard creaking from miles away. 

The Red River Cart is an ingenious invention of the Métis, originating near the Red River in Alberta, Canada. It is constructed entirely out of wood and leather, without nails or metal (which was an expensive commodity in the prairies of the19th century). 

A traditional Métis drying rack for drying bison hides. 

A lobstick is an important Métis navigational aid for travelers, often decorated and also frequently used to mark important places, or honour individuals. Here I have tried to capture the spirit of indigenous artwork with a rose design on one side. A traditional Métis sash is tied to the top.  

A traditional Métis trapper's tent. They were designed to be easy to errect, and take down. I've tried to capture that ingenuity in this static model. 

My favourite entity build for this project, the York boat is a clinker hull, shallow draught boat that was used by the Métis for transporting goods on waterways during the 18th an 19th centuries. The design was based on the Orkney fishing boat (a Scottish connection)!