October 4th 2024.
Growing up in Miami, Oklahoma, Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes was no stranger to video games. He spent countless hours playing the 1999 classic Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, a game that allowed players to colonize a distant planet. So when the same game studio, Firaxis, approached his tribe with a proposal to feature their famous leader Tecumseh as a playable character in the upcoming Civilization 7, Barnes was filled with excitement.
"I couldn't believe it," Barnes exclaimed. "I thought, 'Is this really happening? Do they want us to be a part of the next Civilization game?'"
The Civilization series, beloved by millions since its initial release in 1991, revolutionized the strategy game genre by combining real-world elements with imaginative twists. It has captured the attention of notable figures like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, as well as a young Barnes, with its intricate gameplay and rich historical context. Players can choose to lead civilizations ranging from ancient Egypt to modern-day India, building their empire from the ground up, negotiating with neighboring nations, and developing their society's culture, science, and religion. With millions of copies sold, it's no surprise that it's considered the bestselling strategy video game franchise of all time.
However, as time has passed, society's understanding of cultural appropriation and accurate historical representation has grown. This was evident in 2010 when Firaxis faced backlash from Indigenous leaders for attempting to incorporate a historical Pueblo leader into the game. They also faced criticism in 2018 for their portrayal of a Cree leader in the game's release, leading to a reevaluation of their approach to representing Indigenous cultures.
Knowing the importance of accurately representing the Shawnee leader, the game developers knew they needed the input and support of the Shawnee people. For Barnes, this was not only a chance to showcase the strength and influence of the Shawnee tribe but also an opportunity for his people to see themselves represented in popular culture and imagine a bright future for their community.
"As Native people, it's important for us to have a voice and be seen in all forms of media," Barnes explained. "Why shouldn't we be included in a video game? Why shouldn't we see ourselves reflected in every aspect of our society? So when the opportunity came to have our tribe featured in the game, we knew we had to make the most of it."
For Firaxis, the partnership with the Shawnee tribe was a chance to address past missteps and improve their portrayal of Indigenous cultures in their games. In an interview with The Associated Press, series founder Sid Meier and other studio executives acknowledged their previous casual treatment of history and their desire to create a more authentic representation of the Shawnee people.
This led to months of collaboration and careful consideration to ensure that the game accurately depicted Shawnee culture. The developers consulted with the tribe on details such as the design of a futuristic Shawnee university or library and even created new Shawnee words to describe advanced concepts.
Meier, who has been developing computer games since the 1980s, was particularly moved by the partnership with the Shawnee tribe. He had met with Chief Barnes and learned about the challenges of preserving the Shawnee language, and this collaboration was a way for Firaxis to support the tribe's efforts. As part of the partnership, Firaxis and its publishing label 2K Games, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, are donating a significant amount of money to support language revitalization programs and facilities for the Shawnee tribe.
For Shawnee actor Dean Dillon, the opportunity to voice Tecumseh in the game was unexpected but thrilling. Dillon auditioned for a role that required him to speak the Shawnee language without knowing it was for the role of Tecumseh, the renowned military and political leader who united Native American tribes to resist westward expansion in the early 19th century.
"I just did my best," Dillon recalled. "And a few weeks later, they offered me the role of Tecumseh. I couldn't believe it. I ran around my house yelling, 'Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!'"
The collaboration between Firaxis and the Shawnee tribe not only brings a new level of authenticity to the Civilization franchise but also serves as a way to promote Shawnee language and history in a modern and exciting way. It's a partnership that showcases the power of cultural expression and the importance of accurately representing diverse communities in all forms of media.
Growing up in Miami, Oklahoma, Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes was no stranger to the world of video games. He spent countless hours playing Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, a game that allowed him to colonize distant planets. Little did he know that 25 years later, he would receive an exciting proposal from the same game studio, Firaxis. They wanted to include a playable character based on the famous Shawnee leader, Tecumseh, in their upcoming game Civilization 7.
Barnes couldn't believe it. "Is this really happening?" he thought to himself. The opportunity for the Shawnee Tribe to participate in the next version of Civilization was a dream come true for him. This game series, loved by millions of gamers since its debut in 1991, revolutionized the empire-building genre with its blend of real-world simulation and imaginative twists. Even well-known figures like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg were captivated by its intricate gameplay and rich historical context, including a young Barnes.
In Civilization, players can choose from a variety of leaders, from Cleopatra to Mahatma Gandhi, and build their own civilization from the ground up. They must navigate through challenges such as negotiating with or conquering neighboring civilizations, developing trade, science, religion, and the arts. With its massive success, it's no surprise that it is considered the bestselling strategy video game franchise of all time, according to Circana.
However, as the years went by, things started to change. Society's understanding of cultural appropriation and the importance of accurate historical representation evolved. This led to criticism of the game's portrayal of Indigenous cultures and history. Firaxis had initially planned to add a historical Pueblo leader in 2010, but after objections from tribal leaders, they dropped the idea. In 2018, they incorporated a Cree leader, which also faced backlash upon its release in Canada.
Realizing the need for input and approval from the Shawnee people to properly represent their leader, Firaxis approached the tribe. This partnership was a chance for the Shawnee to showcase their culture and history in a new, imagined future for their tribe. As Chief Barnes put it, "It's about cultural expression and cultural hegemony. Why shouldn't we be represented in a video game? Why shouldn't we see ourselves in all forms of media?" It was a golden opportunity for the Shawnee to shine.
For Firaxis, the partnership was also a chance to improve their game development process and address past criticisms. In interviews with The Associated Press, series founder Sid Meier and other studio executives acknowledged their mistakes in how they portrayed Indigenous groups and colonization in the past. They approached the collaboration with the utmost care, working closely with the Shawnee to ensure an authentic and respectful representation of their culture.
Game producer Andrew Frederiksen, who visited the Shawnee headquarters in September, shared that they asked the Shawnee for their input on what a Shawnee university or library building of the future would look like. They even created new Shawnee words to describe futuristic concepts. For Meier, who has been developing computer games since the 1980s, this partnership was particularly special. It came about from meetings with Chief Barnes, where they discussed the challenges of preserving the Shawnee language. As part of the partnership, Firaxis and its publisher, 2K Games, are also donating hundreds of thousands of dollars towards language revitalization programs and facilities.
When Shawnee actor Dean Dillon auditioned for a part that involved speaking the Shawnee language, he had no idea he would be voicing Tecumseh. The military and political leader from Ohio played a crucial role in uniting Native American tribes to resist westward expansion in the early 19th century. Dillon gave it his best shot, and a few weeks later, he received the news that he would be voicing Tecumseh. He was overjoyed and ran around his house yelling with excitement.
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