Indigenous culture reaches new heights, audience with video game streaming

Video game streamers are creating a new frontier in digital media and Indigenous streamers are using the space to showcase their culture. Xiaoli Li joins a game of Dead By Daylight with Marmar Gaming to talk about the opportunities streaming presents

OTTAWA (CityNews) — Indigenous content creators and streamers are mashing up traditional culture with modern games as part of a new wave of digital culture.

Marlon Weekusk, better known by his streamer name Marmar on Twitch, is a content creator from Onion Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, near the Alberta border.

Weekusk plays games like “Dead by Daylight” and “Call of Duty: Warzone” for his followers.

“I’ve always had an interest in the technology of it, right from photography and videography, hooking things up together and making scenes and stuff, so people can watch this,” said Weekusk.

The streamer says he’s always been passionate about content creation and tech. He feels the productions skills he’s learned while streaming on Twitch and Facebook Gaming are a real job asset.

“It’s a technical skill, and it’s an in-demand skill,” he said. “Broadcasting, web broadcasting, people don’t realize companies will be looking for these things.”

**Warning: Livestream may contain strong language and video game violence**

While there aren’t many Indigenous Twitch streamers, Canada’s gaming industry is ready to offer their support.

Montreal-based Ubisoft Games has signed Weekusk as an ambassador.

And earlier this year, Ubisoft unveiled a new Indigenous character — Thunderbird — for their hit game Rainbow Six Siege. Thunderbird happens to be from Weekusk’s home territory of Saskatchewan.

“They had three women from my area consult on that,” said Weekusk. “They had the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women patch on the arm, star quilt designs and whatnot, the ribbons.

“And then in the trailer, she says the line “skoden.” And not many people understand that. I’m sure many people heard it, but where it originated from is among Native American youth. It means, ‘let’s go then.’”

–With files from Xiaoli Li

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today