Indigital Minecraft Education Challenge 2021

Following the success of the Indigenous designed Minecraft Education Challenge in 2020, the Indigital Minecraft Education Challenge for 2021 is back!

The Indigital Minecraft Education Challenge invites Indigenous and non-Indigenous students from Foundation to Year 10 to discover and explore their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural knowledge, histories and languages using Minecraft Education Edition. 

Anchored on this year’s National NAIDOC theme - Heal Country and inspired by the Indigital Schools program, the Indigenous designed Challenge is supported by Microsoft Australia, Telstra Foundation, National Library of Australia and the National NAIDOC Committee.

This year’s Challenge invites students to explore this year’s National NAIDOC theme – Heal Country using Minecraft: Education Edition. Utilising the Challenge resource library and supported by community Elders and teachers, students are asked to respond to the Challenge question: “How can we ‘Heal Country: Side by Side,’ and build more sustainable communities by embracing First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country?”

Schools have until the 30^th July to register, and the 20^th August to upload their submission. Schools can register and find out more about the Challenge.

Last year over 1000 students across 31 schools participated in the challenge and this year is looking like it is going to be bigger and better!

The response to this year’s Challenge has been phenomenal with schools across the country registering to take part! Places are still open to schools located in ACT, SA and NT. Schools can register and find out more about the Challenge.

The story behind this year’s logo

The 2021 Indigital Minecraft Education Challenge is designed by Laynhapuy Homelands and Yirrkala Bilingual School student, Wilirriya Burarrwanga. Wilirriya is a Gumatj man and lives in Garrthalala in North East Arnhem Land. Wilirriya received second place in last year’s challenge for his interpretation of Djambawal (Thunderman). Following his win Wilirriya was given the opportunity to design this year’s logo. Wilirriya used Paint 3D to create Thunderman who is holding a lightning spear. Wilirriya explains the creation story of Thunderman and his design. “He’s standing and he’s holding thunder… big. He’s big and tall. He makes water calm. Turns it good for hunting.” “I liked the Challenge because I learnt how to use Paint 3D, it was lots of fun, but also a really good way to share cultural knowledge. Pretty cool!’