Project Quipu, Inc., a New Jersey-based organization, recently announced a partnership with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).
“We are thrilled to partner with Project Quipu to bring new and exciting opportunities to Indigenous students and professionals,” said AISES CEO Sarah EchoHawk in a statement. “Beyond competing, the video gaming and esports industry unlocks significant academic and career opportunities, particularly in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math fields).”
Through its partnership with AISES, Project Quipu will serve as video gaming, competitive gaming, and esports industry experts to assist in the AISES program and event development to create opportunities for its youth membership.
At the launch, Project Quipu named Hai Ng, co-founder of Neomancer, an interdisciplinary game development project, to its founding board of directors. Dr. Katherine Spilde, a professor and endowed chair of the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming at San Diego State University, is also a member of the board.
A two-time winner of the Chairman’s Leadership Award presented by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), Dr. Spilde serves as faculty advisor for the Tribal Student Gaming Association (TGSA). In 2017 TGSA received the NIGA Chairman’s Leadership Award.
“In addition to the education and career opportunities, esports and video gaming can bring multiple benefits to Indian Country,” Spilde said in a statement. As an online activity, video gaming can engage tribes in geographically remote regions through networked tournaments and spectating. Unlike traditional sports, video gaming does not require special purpose venues and is a year-round activity not adversely affected by seasons or harsh weather. There are no barriers to play related to gender, ability, age, or education level. Another attractive feature is their ability to attract infrastructure funding to Indian Country in order to encourage players, teams and tournaments. As this ecosystem continues to grow, the opportunity for education and careers will grow with it”
Project Quipu aims to utilize video gaming, competitive gaming, and esports as a vehicle to enhance cultural and social cohesion, and to create new career and economic opportunities, beginning in and across Indigenous Nations and communities in the United States, then onwards to other indigenous communities across the globe. For more information, visit Project Quipu at quipu.gg
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