The MN-S and Maskwa Games are developing a Back to Batoche Roblox game (photo: MN-S)

By NC Raine

Roblox Game Development

Back to Batoche going virtual in new MN-S video game training program

May 15, 2026 | 11:48 AM

One of the most historic and important annual events for Métis citizens is getting a major contemporary complement.

In partnership with Maskwa Games, the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) is launching a new video game development and design training opportunity for Métis youth.

The MN-S is recruiting a small group of citizens, aged 18-29, to take part in a ‘Roblox’ video game development program to create a game based on the Back to Batoche Festival.

‘Roblox’ is a popular online platform and creation system where users can play, create, and share millions of different games and virtual experiences created by the community. It operates as a social, user-generated platform rather than a single game. As of early 2026, Roblox has over 150 million daily active users.

“We were looking at how we can engage the youth in a way that is going to be fun, that they want to participate in. But at the same time, they’re learning about our Métis culture, language, and history,” said Andrea Fiss, MN-S director of urban learning and sports.

Traditional games at Back to Batoche will be incorporated into the Roblox game (photo: MN-S)

The training will take place over two days in September, followed by 6-8 weeks of online, self-based project work. Applicants will be selected after being shortlisted and interviewed by a selection committee of staff members and Elders.

“Our hope is that youth get their feet wet, and this might launch them into something,” said Fiss. “Youth might say, ‘this is something I want to do, how can I pursue this’ (as a career)?”

Fiss said the game will allow users to explore the grounds and Back to Batoche festival, as well as participating in mini-games found at the festival, such as log sawing, or hammer and nails. The game will be piloted in Michif, and in the future will be expanded to include other Métis languages.

Game developer Maskwa Games, who will be leading the training, has already partnered with the Métis National Council (MNC) to produce a Roblox game called ‘Métis Life’ in which players can explore through Métis history and traditions while learning language.

Since launching less than a year ago, Métis Life has about 25,000 plays.

“This game is meant to learn through exploring. We hope it can be a first step into a language journey,” said Joshua Nilson, founder of Maskwa Games.

Nilson has been working in video game development for nearly two decades (photo: Joshua Nilson)

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Nilson, a Métis citizen in British Columbia, started Maskwa games with the desire to revitalize language and culture through an avenue that might pull in a different, younger audience.

“We found that with some of the Michif languages, there’s not a lot of people speaking them – 200 people speak northern Michif, and there’s not a lot of youth speaking Michif,” said Nilson. “So we thought about how we can do something that can attract youth to get exposed to language and culture.”

Nilson has been working in video game development for nearly two decades – an industry he said has historically been very difficult for Indigenous people to break into. He said without advanced equipment, education, or an industry connection, few Indigenous people have been able to break into the industry.

According to Statistic Canada, less than one percent of the tech workforce is represented by Indigenous people.

“Our mission at Maskwa Games is to help empower the next 1,000 Indigenous interactive media creators by giving them a little bit of guidance and support,” he said.

“Now, anyone can make a game. Hundreds of thousands, or millions, of people can see your game, your culture, what’s important to you. That’s what gets me excited.”

The course consists of a hands-on training program in Roblox studio, game design, and 3D coding. (photo: MN-S)

With the Back to Batoche game that Nilson is developing with the MN-S, he said he plans to hand over every element to the MN-S and the youth in the program in order for them to further advance and expand the game.

“This opportunity is really an entrepreneurship program. I’m confident that when they finish this program, they’re going to be curious enough that they’ll be able to go on and build other apps, or digital art, or go into podcast, or whatever they want because they’ll see how it as a possibility now,” said Nilson.

“When I started in games, no one said ‘pull up a chair to the table, you’re welcome here.’ But the fact that we’re empowering youth with confidence and tools – they’re going to go on to create things we never imagined.”

Applications are open until May 30, and can be found here.

by NC Raine

Back to Batoche going virtual in new MN-S video game training program

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