iNdigital Youth Collective
Level Up with imagineNATIVE
Formed through collaboration between imagineNATIVE and ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency, the iNdigital Youth Collective is a group of emerging Indigenous digital and interactive artists aged 12-24 and based in Toronto. The iNdigital Youth Collective’s mission is to empower Indigenous youth and grow the next generation of Indigenous voices in digital media. The curriculum emphasizes culturally grounded approaches and supports the expression of Indigenous knowledge systems through immersive digital media. This collective operates with a collaborative spirit to engage Indigenous youth in a community-focused approach while fostering creativity, technical skill, and confidence.
Join the iNdigital Youth Collective
2026: Unreal Engine
The iNdigital Youth Collective is returning with an eight-week program offering Indigenous youth, aged 12-24, hands-on training in digital creation!
Guided by two mentors and an imagineNATIVE facilitator, participants learn the core principles of game design, interactive storytelling, user experience, and digital production. The program includes practical instruction in using game engines and related software, along with access to equipment, artist talks, and a dedicated workspace.
By the end of the program, each participant will develop and present a small-scale video game or interactive project, which will be presented at the 2026 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and displayed within the iNdigital Space + Arcade. The curriculum emphasizes culturally grounded approaches and supports the expression of Indigenous knowledge systems through immersive digital media.
Application Deadline: February 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
2026 Schedule
Check out the upcoming schedule for our 2026 curriculum of workshops being held in-person in Toronto.
| Activity | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Workshop 1 |
February 25, 2026 |
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET |
|
Workshop 2 |
March 4, 2026 |
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET |
|
Workshop 3 |
March 11, 2026 |
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET |
|
Workshop 4 |
March 18, 2026 |
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET |
|
Workshop 5 |
March 25, 2026 |
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET |
|
Workshop 6 |
April 1, 2026 |
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET |
|
Workshop 7 |
April 8, 2026 |
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET |
|
Workshop 8 |
April 15, 2026 |
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET |
Please note: Workshop dates and times are subject to change.
For more information, please email jasmine@imagineNATIVE.org.
Past Cohorts
2020: First Iteration
During the first series of virtual programming in September 2020, the collective completed the Skins workshops developed and produced by AbTeC as part of the Initiative for Indigenous Futures (IIF). Workshops centered on developing skills in avatar and game design, character concepts, and interactive storytelling. Artists broadened their understanding of using creative workflows in Second Life, Bitsy, and Twine.
The iNdigital Youth Collective was showcased at the 2020 Annual Festival, where emerging artists shared their experiences and highlights from workshop series. Youth Rising iNdigital is available on the imagineNATIVE YouTube page.
2021: Seven Generations Later
Based on the Seventh Generation concept — centered on making sustainable decisions that carry forward in time — imagineNATIVE’s iNdigital Youth Collective developed a series of characters that reflect their visions of possible Indigenous futures.
These “descendants” manifested in conjunction with the 2021 imagineNATIVE Festival as life-size vinyl characters, hosted in libraries across Tkaronto, on AbTeC Island in Second Life, and on the iNdigital Space. Each character represents layered spaces of traditional storytelling and Indigenous futurism, supported by contemporary technology.
2022: Video Game Design
In 2022, the iNdigital Youth Collective cohort learned game design skills through a series of workshops alongside Indigenous mentors and artists. The games and experiences they created were featured as part of an online exhibition and a special showcase at the 2022 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.
2023: Bitsy Game Design
The 2023 iNdigital Youth Collective cohort dove headfirst into the captivating world of game design by building an interactive experience using the Bitsy game engine. Participants braced themselves for an exhilarating series of workshops with Indigenous mentors and talented artists, Director/Producer Pōhaikealoha Panoke and Creative Technologist/Game Developer Steve Diabo.
Participants levelled up into the exciting realm of game design where the interactive experiences they created were featured as part of an online exhibition as well as a special showcase at the 2023 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival!
Additional Information
For future announcements and opportunities to join the next iNdigital Youth Collective, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media. For more information, please email jasmine@imagineNATIVE.org.
The iNdigital Youth Collective thanks the Indigenous Screen Office, Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and EQ Bank for their continued support.
For more information, please email ktomaselli@imaginenative.org.
The iNdigital Youth Collective thanks the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and EQ Bank for their continued support.
