Virtual Reality Project Brings Land and Culture to Elders in Behchokǫ̀

Virtual Reality Project Brings Land and Culture to Elders in Behchokǫ̀

The drumming and chanting of hand games is a familiar sound for 81-year-old Noel Drybones, a resident at a seniors home in Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T. But on a recent October day, the sounds were coming from a set of virtual reality (VR) goggles that Drybones was wearing.

The VR project, initiated by the Tłı̨chǫ Government during the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to bring the land to residents during lockdown. The project allows elders, and others who struggle with mobility, to travel to various cultural sites without ever leaving home.

With the VR headsets, users can choose from a list of 10 locations, including gravesites, the Whatı̀ falls, a drum dance, or a hide-tanning camp. The headsets provide users with a 360-degree view of their chosen site and immerse them in the sounds of activities like hide-scraping, fishing, or drum dancing.

The project has been a hit at the seniors home in Behchokǫ̀, where staff say that connecting elders with their culture sparks happy memories. Sarah Power, a nurse at the home, mentioned that the VR experience helps residents feel connected to their heritage and reduces the sense of loss from living in a care facility.

Johnny Simpson, a resident at the seniors home, sees the potential for the technology to be used as a tool to teach youth about cultural sites. He believes that the VR experience could be a valuable alternative to teaching on the land, especially for elders or students who are unable to travel.

Paul Cressman, the project manager with the Tłı̨chǫ Government, envisions workshops where students wear the VR headsets while elders share stories of cultural significance. He also sees potential for environmental monitoring, where VR technology can record sites and elders can provide insights on environmental changes.

While the project is not a substitute for actually being on the land, it serves as a form of memory therapy for users like Drybones. Steve Lindsay, a psychology professor, describes the VR experience as a form of mental time travel that can bring users back to earlier experiences.

Julia Naedzo, the facility coordinator at the Behchokǫ̀ home, notes that the VR experience brings joy to the residents, even if they may not remember it days later. She emphasizes the importance of the VR content being in the Tłı̨chǫ language, as it helps residents connect with their childhood memories.

For Drybones, the VR experience is a source of joy, especially when he hears the drumming. As he puts it, “Everybody should be dancing, why are you hanging around?” The project continues to bring cultural enrichment and happiness to elders in Behchokǫ̀, bridging the gap between tradition and modern technology.