EPISODE 40: INDIGENOUS FUTURISM WITH WENDI SIERRA
Episode 40: Indigenous Futurism with Wendi Sierra | 25 August 2026
Stephen and Trent interview their friend, colleague, and worldbuilding case-study contributor, Dr. Wendi Sierra. The trio discusses how Wendi’s (2020) game, A Strong Fire, integrates Oneida language and cultural traditions to preserve and teach, as well as:
Wendi’s scholarly work at the intersection of literature, digital rhetoric, game development, and Indigenous studies;
Contrasting corporate-driven transmedia production with community-driven transmedia prosumerism;
Rethinking authorship as inherently collaborative rather than individual;
Creation myths as historical evidence of variation in oral traditions;
Rhetorical speedbumps associated with the digital transformation of culturally embedded stories;
Leveraging context clues and “Easter eggs” to signal designed intent toward specific audiences or goals;
Challenging the idea that any one minoritized work can flawlessly represent all possible perspectives within a diverse community;
Commercial imperatives, stereotyping, and sanitization for global appeal;
Difficulties with digital preservation of niche cultural and artistic projects;
Balancing mechanical flexibility with sometimes-necessary constraints on player behavior;
The active, indie-led renaissance of Indigenous movies, music, and games;
Sociopolitical tensions in repatriating physical artifacts to non-monolithic communities;
Grace Dillon’s concept of Indigenous futurism and rejection of the “frozen-in-time” stereotype;
Applying the Haudenosaunee Seven Generations Principle to evaluate how current decisions may impact future generations;
Distinguishing superficial appropriation from the deeply integrated temporal braids of a living culture;
Highly personal, generational, and contextual nuances of terminology and labels;
Cultivating low-stakes pedagogical environments where learners can make and correct cultural mistakes without shame or indignation; and
Strategically incorporating complex social forces throughout the worldbuilding process to foster empathy and critical self-reflection.
Episode References:
Sierra, W. (2020). A strong fire. [Video game]. Second Avenue Learning.
Wolf, M. J. P. (2012). Building imaginary worlds: The theory and history of subcreation. Routledge.
Hergenrader, T. (2018). Collaborative worldbuilding for writers and gamers. Bloomsbury Academic.
Sierra, W. (2020). Todd Howard: Worldbuilding in Tamriel and beyond (Influential video game designers). Bloomsbury Academic.
Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954-1955). The Lord of the Rings. Allen & Unwin.
Rowling, J. K. (1997). Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone. Bloomsbury.
Goddard, G. (Director). (1987). Masters of the universe [Film]. Cannon Films; Edward R. Pressman Film Group.
Knight, T. (Director). (2026). Masters of the universe [Film]. Amazon MGM Studios; Mattel Films; Escape Artists.
Grubb, J. & Winter, S. (1984). Marvel super heroes role-playing game [Box set]. TSR, Inc.
Wise, D. & Howeth, P. (Writers), & Wolf, F. (Director). (1987–1996). Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [TV series]. Murakami-Wolf-Swenson; Fred Wolf Films.
Chalopin, J., & Heyward, A. (Executive Producers). (1983–1985). Inspector gadget [TV series]. DIC Audiovisuel; Lexington Broadcast Services Company; Nelvana.
Cooney, J. G. (Executive Producer). (1969–present). Sesame Street [TV series]. Children's Television Workshop; Sesame Workshop.
Lucas, G. (Director). (1977). Star Wars Episode IV: A new hope [Film]. Lucasfilm; 20th Century Fox.
Homer. (1990). The Iliad (R. Fagles, Trans.). Penguin Books. (Original work published ca. 8th century B.C.E.).
Homer. (1996). The odyssey (R. Fagles, Trans.). Penguin Books. (Original work published ca. 8th century B.C.E.).
Bethesda Game Studios. (2011). The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim [Video game]. Bethesda Softworks.
Bethesda Game Studios. (2008). Fallout 3 [Video game]. Bethesda Softworks.
Bethesda Game Studios. (2015). Fallout 4 [Video game]. Bethesda Softworks.
Edwards, G. (Director). (2016). Rogue One: A Star Wars Story [Film]. Lucasfilm; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Upper One Games. (2014). Never alone (Kisima Inŋitchuŋa) [Video game]. E-Line Media.
Coogler, R. (Director). (2018). Black Panther [Film]. Marvel Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Goldberg, H. (2018, October 14). The making of Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2. Vulture. https://www.vulture.com/2018/10/the-making-of-rockstar-games-red-dead-redemption-2.html
Extra Credits. (2012, May 11). Tangential learning — how games can teach us while we play [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlQrTHrwyxQ
Ubisoft Montreal. (2012). Assassin's Creed III [Video game]. Ubisoft.
NeoBards Entertainment. (2025). Silent Hill f [Video game]. Konami.
Cretton, D. D. (Director). (2026). Spider-Man: Brand New Day [Film]. Columbia Pictures; Marvel Studios.
Sabaton. (2007). Metalizer [Album]. Black Lodge Records.
Wargaming. (2011). World of tanks [Video game]. Wargaming.net.
Harjo, S., Waititi, T., & Basch, G. (Executive Producers). (2021–2023). Reservation dogs [TV series]. FX Productions; Sterlin Harjo Productions
Alexander, C. (2022). Coyote & crow: The role-playing game [Tabletop role-playing game]. Coyote & Crow Games.
Konieczka, C. (2011). Mansions of madness [Board game]. Fantasy Flight Games.
Lang, E. M. (2015). XCOM: The board game [Board game]. Fantasy Flight Games.
Grann, D. (2017). Killers of the flower moon: The Osage murders and the birth of the FBI. Doubleday.
Feige, K., Broussard, S., D’Esposito, L., Winderbaum, B., Alonso, V., Palmer, R., Gavin, J., Dayre, M., & Freeland, S. (Executive Producers). (2024). Echo [TV series]. Marvel Studios.
Barnaby, J. (Director). (2019). Blood quantum [Film]. Prospector Films.
A Tribe Called Red. (2016). We Are the Halluci Nation [Album]. Radicalized Records.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids. (2019). Boujee natives [Song]. On Trapline. RPM Records.
Achimostawinan Games. (2023). Hill Agency: PURITYdecay [Video game]. Achimostawinan Games.
Jones, S. G. (2020). The only good Indians. Saga Press.
Wilbur, M. & Keene, A. (Hosts). (2019–present). All My Relations [Audio podcast]. All My Relations.
Iguana Entertainment. (1997). Turok: Dinosaur hunter [Video game]. Acclaim Entertainment.
Sierra, W. (2025). Gaming for the seventh generation: Indigenous Futurisms in games. Journal of Gaming & Virtual Worlds, 17(2), 179–192. https://doi.org/10.1386/jgvw_00127_1
Dillon, G. L. (Ed.). (2012). Walking the clouds: An anthology of Indigenous science fiction. University of Arizona Press.
Dillon, G. L. & Muzyka, K. (2019). From growing medicine to space rockets: What is Indigenous futurism? Indigenous Nations Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations. 21. https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/38952
Data East. (1990). Werewolf: The last warrior [Video game]. Data East.
Guerrilla Games. (2017). Horizon zero dawn [Video game]. Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Ruff, M. (2016). Lovecraft Country. Harper.
Bobin, J. (Director). (2011). The Muppets [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures; Mandeville Films.
Ornelas, S. T., Schur, M., Helms, E., Miner, D., Falbo, M., & Sackett, M. (Executive Producers). (2021–2022). Rutherford Falls [TV series]. 3 Arts Entertainment; Fremulon; Pacific Electric Picture Company; Universal Television. https://youtu.be/fyCUYCGQ83M?is=zpy5vB2K-xBOhsF8