Reawakening the Digital Path for Indigenous Youth 

In Alberta and across Canada, the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) is reimagining how technology can connect young people to culture, language, and community. With support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada grant, USAY is launching Reawakening the Digital Path, a project to modernize its award-winning virtual reality (VR) cultural learning tools so they remain accessible to Indigenous youth across the country. 

Revitalizing Cultural Learning Through Technology 

USAY’s Reawakening the Digital Path project will modernize its immersive VR experiences ‘Thunder, Finding Victor, and Writing on Stone’ originally created for the now-obsolete Oculus Go platform. Redesigned for Oculus Quest 3 through youth-led co-design sessions, updated storylines, and new digital assets, these tools will preserve and expand access to culturally grounded learning for Indigenous youth aged 12–29, including those in remote or urban areas without regular access to Elders or land-based education.  

“With Catapult’s support, we can preserve and enhance culturally grounded learning tools that empower Indigenous youth across Canada to see themselves as leaders, creators, and storytellers in the digital world,” the USAY team says. 

Bridging Cultural and Technological Barriers 

Indigenous youth across Canada continue to face barriers to culturally relevant education. Many schools still lack Indigenous content, and youth living away from their home communities often feel disconnected from traditional teachings. At the same time, outdated technology has limited access to existing Indigenous digital learning tools, leaving a gap in both cultural and technological engagement. 

By modernizing these experiences, USAY is bridging that gap: combining innovation and culture to help youth reconnect with their identities, learn from Elders’ teachings, and engage more meaningfully in their education. Educators and youth have described these VR programs as transformative, helping Indigenous and non-Indigenous students understand the land, history, and teachings of Treaty 7 peoples in new ways. 

Strengthening Innovation and Access with Support from the Rideau Hall Foundation 

With funding from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada initiative, USAY will restore and expand access to its suite of immersive learning tools while training Indigenous youth in digital design and technology. Catapult’s support ensures that cultural knowledge continues to evolve alongside technology, keeping these vital learning experiences relevant, accessible, and youth-driven. 

Beyond financial investment, Catapult connects USAY to a broader national community of innovators working to make learning more equitable and culturally grounded. By investing in USAY’s Reawakening the Digital Path project, the Rideau Hall Foundation is helping to ensure that Indigenous youth across Canada can continue to learn, lead, and reconnect through the power of technology and story.