Amazone-se / the Centro de Trabalho Indigenista (CTI) / Survival International: The Non Mineable Land

In recent years, the illegal exploitation of Indigenous territories in Brazil has grown exponentially, poisoning the soil and water and decimating the communities of multiple peoples. How to teach the next generation about the importance of preserving Indigenous lives? The educational project "Non-Mineable Land," which arose to meet that challenge, will be launched on social media on Indigenous People's Day, April 19th, and at the game developer's stand during the biggest educational tech event in Latin America, Bett Brasil, from May 9-12. The initiative is a collaboration with Amazone-se, the Centro de Trabalho Indigenista (CTI) and Survival International, three NGOs that work with Indigenous communities in Amazonia. The project takes place in a world where its target audience already spends plenty of time: Minecraft, the best-selling game in the world, which teaches children to mine and build whole worlds out of raw materials. In a map set in the Amazonian rainforest and featuring Indigenous peoples, their rivers, trees, birds, and fire pits, among other elements, children will be able to learn firsthand about protecting the environment. In this new mod, the "Non-Mineable Land," as the name suggests, it's impossible to mine the land, subverting the base principle of the game. No matter how hard users try, they won't be able to mine. Instead, players are invited into a learning experience developed with the help of an educational consultant. "The map introduces elements of Indigenous cultures in Brazil into a virtual world to generate real awareness," underscores Francisco Tupy, a Minecraft Education consultant. The project will be made available for all kids within Minecraft Education, and includes tools for teachers to help their students learn more about Indigenous communities and their cultures. As they explore these virtual Indigenous lands, children will be able to understand why these communities' sovereignty must be respected. While the map doesn't represent a specific Indigenous community, it highlights the common elements they share. After all, the task of caring for the earth isn't borne by one specific community, but by them all. To present the initiative to as many people as possible, the project, co-created along with AlmapBBDO, has a website – https://nonmineableland.com/– which provides an introduction to the project and shows a taste of gameplay in Minecraft's non-mineable lands.