Gaming has always been more than just a pastime for Indigenous communities. It’s a way to teach, connect, and strengthen relationships. Today, Indigenous gamers and creators are carrying those traditions into the digital age, crafting stories and spaces that reflect who we are as contemporary people while still honoring our past. At the forefront of this movement is Angee Noel, a Chickasaw and Choctaw technologist, educator, and founder of Gaming is Rezilience.
In this interview, Angee discusses how gaming can bridge cultures, close gaps, and inspire the next generation of Indigenous storytellers and innovators.
Q. Can you tell us a little about Gaming is Rezilience? How did it start and what’s the vision driving it forward?
Gaming is Rezilience started by formalizing what I was already doing by combining my career experience, graduate research, and personal passion to uplift Indigenous representation in gaming, STEM, and academia. I’d already been running workshops and gaming events, working with Native organizations during my graduate program, and I thought, why not make it official and create a space to engage more Indigenous gamers, not just here on Turtle Island but around the world?
My vision is to eventually have a brick-and-mortar space centered around Indigenous representation in gaming and media. I want other Indigenous gamers to connect, experience different cultures, and realize we’re not just one monolithic group. We all have different teachings and experiences, and gaming can help us share those with each other.
Q. How do you see gaming serving as a tool for cultural connection, healing, and community building?
Gaming has always been part of our culture. We’ve always learned through play. Stickball and hand games weren’t just games. They were ways of making decisions, strengthening the community, and teaching values. Today’s games are just a modern extension of that.
However, many of the ones made about us have historically been created without us, perpetuating stereotypes and treating us as a monolithic group. As I’ve continued researching and learning more about the industry, it’s been encouraging to see more games being made by Indigenous creators or in true collaboration with game companies. Each new release moves in a better direction. At the same time, developing these kinds of games requires access to infrastructure and resources, a privilege that not everyone has. Making this kind of work accessible to more of our communities is an important part of the progress.
Q. What unique challenges do Native gamers face in accessing and being included in the wider gaming world?
Research shows that many marginalized communities tend to play more console games. That was true for me growing up. We always had the latest console at home. I was forced by my brother to play games like Madden and others. I wasn’t a huge gamer myself. I preferred Super Mario and still remember playing NBA 2K and NBA Street.
But playing on consoles limits your exposure to the technical skills you’d get from using a PC. That’s part of the digital divide; without access to high-end PC equipment, you miss out on the kinds of tech skills that many people in software, engineering, and IT develop early on.
In my case, we did have a computer at home, and my mom, who had an associate’s degree in information technology, helped me pick up early skills like coding on MySpace, navigating MSN Messenger, and learning social media platforms. But even with that access, I lacked the mentoring and resources to really grow those skills into something bigger.
I think what’s missing for many of us is mentorship opportunities, resources, and infrastructure, not just for youth, but also for older generations. Whether you’re a millennial, Gen X, or someone returning to school later in life, we need more support to help people advance through college and beyond. That kind of investment would give our communities better access to opportunities on a larger scale.
Q. How do Indigenous values and storytelling traditions shape the way Native gamers play, create, and compete?
For me, seeing authentic representation in games is really important. Playing Valorant helped shift my perspective on how representation can show up and be experienced in games. The game features diverse characters from around the world, and you get to learn their backstories right in the game itself, and you don’t have to search a wiki or website.
For example, one of the characters is from Turkey. As you play, you learn about her culture, hear her speak in Turkish, and see her unique abilities rooted in her background. I even picked up a few words of Turkish just from hearing her voice lines over and over.
While researching Indigenous representation in games, my neurodivergent brain started connecting the dots: if Valorant can integrate culture and language so seamlessly, why aren’t we doing the same with our own languages? My tribe has Rosetta Stone lessons, but they require a DVD player and feel outdated and inaccessible. Games could be a much more engaging and modern way to revitalize our languages.
That experience really opened my eyes to how games can support cultural preservation and connect us back to our roots in meaningful ways.
Q. Tell us more about the Rez Summer Games you’re organizing through Gaming is Rezilience. What can attendees expect this year?
Rez Summer Games is all about bringing Indigenous gamers together for some fun, friendly competition and showcasing our presence in the gaming world. Players will compete in Fortnite using a point system based on kills and placement. Fall Guys is included too, it’s such a silly, lighthearted game, and if there’s enough interest, we’ll make it part of the event.
One of my priorities was making the games as accessible as possible, which is why I chose cross-platform titles. Both Fortnite and Fall Guys can be played on consoles, PCs, and even mobile devices in some cases, so players don’t need high-end gaming setups to join in. I hope that everyone, whether on console, PC, or mobile, can participate and enjoy the experience.
In addition to the competitions, we’ll also feature a showcase of Indigenous-made video games to highlight the incredible work being done by Indigenous developers. I’m also working on bringing in special guests to speak briefly about their work in Indigenous gaming and media. So far, I’ve invited Dr. Lee Francis to talk about his work with IndigipopX, and I’m reaching out to a few more people who might join us for short conversations to inspire and uplift the community.
Overall, the Rez Summer Games is a grassroots event designed to celebrate Indigenous gamers and creators, bring people together, and show the many ways gaming connects us, not just as players, but as a community.
Q. Looking ahead, what’s next for Gaming is Rezilience?
What’s next for Gaming is Rezilience is expanding beyond just video games. I want to incorporate all kinds of gaming because, as I’ve said before, we’re gamers in many different ways. With my background in child development, I’m especially interested in how play, whether it’s language games, cultural games, or just family game night, can be a powerful tool for learning and connection.
We’re already seeing amazing tabletop games being created by Indigenous developers, and that really inspires me. I’d love to make an Indigenous board game as one of my next projects. There’s something special about sitting around a table, disconnecting from screens, and sharing that experience with family and community. That vision to celebrate all forms of play and make them meaningful for our people is where I see Gaming is Rezilience going in the future.
I also hope to keep building connections, mentoring, and advocating for more representation in gaming, STEM, and beyond. This work is about reminding our people and showing the world that we’ve always been resilient, creative, and innovative.
Angee Noel’s work reminds us that Indigenous gaming is not just about playing and has a vital role in reclaiming our stories, revitalizing our languages, and building communities that span Turtle Island and beyond. Through Gaming is Rezilience, she continues to create opportunities for Indigenous gamers to connect, compete, and thrive, proving that the future of gaming is Indigenous, and it’s already here.
To learn more about Angee Noel and her work, visit her website at angeenoel.com and gamingisrezilience.com
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