{"id":32876,"date":"2023-08-09T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xtremeservers.com\/blog\/xbox-announces-aises-partnership-for-international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples\/"},"modified":"2023-08-09T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T16:00:00","slug":"xbox-announces-aises-partnership-for-international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xtremeservers.com\/blog\/xbox-announces-aises-partnership-for-international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples\/","title":{"rendered":"Xbox Announces AISES Partnership for International Day of the World\u2019s Indigenous Peoples"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We\u2019re still here. Indigenous people, that is. I\u2019m one of them. I am from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Cherokee Nation. I enjoy creating beadwork like my ancestors before me, or rather I am learning to. I grew up in California and Arizona where Indigenous cultures are entirely different from my own. But I did travel to Oklahoma and North Carolina frequently, the ancestral homelands of my people. I have fond memories of competing in jingle dress competitions at powwows, surrounded by brightly colored fabrics, beating drums, and the metallic tinkling of the cones sewn into the dresses. I\u2019ve enjoyed stick ball games at fall festivals and times of solemn prayer during sweat ceremonies. I remember my father teaching me to use a bow.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m also an Xbox Software Engineer. I provide backend support for the various Xbox Stores, coding features and ensuring that services are running smoothly. I studied electrical engineering in college, but my basic knowledge of coding plus Microsoft-provided training in areas such as databases and networking has helped me grow in this role. \u00a0Here at Microsoft, I find endless opportunities to learn, and I\u2019m always solving new types of problems and pursuing new technologies. I leverage the support of my teammates and colleagues and together we are creating the best platforms for our Gamers and Publishers.<\/p>\n

In college, I was one of the only Indigenous students in the hard sciences. I became involved with our local AISES chapter, which at the time was led by non-Indigenous allies. During my senior year, I led our local AISES chapter, and the entire board was comprised of Indigenous people. It was through the AISES National Conference that I had the opportunity to interview with Microsoft and start my internship which led me to where I am today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

When I started working at Microsoft, I struggled with imposter syndrome. I wondered if I could really belong here. Thankfully, I\u2019ve felt supported in my role and feel that my talents are recognized and being put to good use. I\u2019m beginning to feel that I can contribute and even do more; I hope to design a short video game that tells an Indigenous story. I dream of seeing more representation of Indigenous peoples in games and behind them, as creators.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re still here. We\u2019re still telling our stories and passing on our cultural knowledge through various mediums, including video games. I hope to see more of our stories represented in the gaming industry because games are a beautiful medium to perpetuate stories through art, music, and written narrative.<\/p>\n

Here are a few ways that Team Xbox will be uplifting the voices of Indigenous people this year:<\/p>\n

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GIVE<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Xbox + AISES Partnership Announce<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In partnership with AISES, Xbox commits to proudly uplifting the voices of Indigenous Peoples who are reclaiming their stories and shaping our future. This fall, we\u2019re joining AISES at their national conference in Spokane, WA to showcase games with Indigenous creators, content, and stories. Each one illuminates the stories of and by Indigenous Peoples and capture the spirit and resilience of Indigenous cultures worldwide. AISES shares our commitment to substantially increasing representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math. Together we stand firm in our commitment to promoting these unique and essential voices. We invite you to honor their stories and join us at the conference, which you can find more information about here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Indigenous Peoples the world over have a rich tradition of storytelling. Yet for too long, their stories have gone unheard, their identities unseen\u2014it\u2019s time for them to be revitalized everywhere, especially in worldbuilding through the future of gaming. Throughout the year, we will be working with AISES to identify opportunities to bring more Indigenous talent and storytelling to the video gaming industry.<\/p>\n

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Gaming\u00a0and Impact with Rewards<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Microsoft Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting Indigenous communities with Xbox. The organizations below will be featured on console throughout August:<\/p>\n