San Diego State University will conduct a nationwide survey, called Project Quipu, to understand American Indian tribal participation in video games and eSports. The project is funded by the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming at the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Incoming Assistant Professor Dr. Brandon Mastromartino will oversee the survey.
Mastromartino said, “This research can ultimately benefit tribal youth and education efforts as well, which align with the historic investment by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation to create the Sycuan Institute with a focus on tribal nation building through tribal gaming and other games.”
Building on an earlier survey conducted in partnership with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, SDSU will interview AISES members about video game participation and connectivity. AISES will help distribute the Project Quipu survey and use the results to determine the ways video gaming can improve education efforts for tribal youth.
AISES Chief Executive Officer Sarah EchoHawk said, “Identifying the nuances of video gaming and eSports among tribal youth is innovative. eSports continues tremendous growth with its popularity rising among youth in tribal/indigenous communities. This survey will help to understand the motivation, excitement, experience and influence esports has within our young tribal/indigenous video gaming community. It is an unprecedented opportunity, and we are to eager launch the survey.”
Project Quipu co-founder Hai Ng said the project will provide new ways to “address the geographic isolation of tribal communities. I look forward to working with the Sycuan Institute to extend their work on tribal government gaming into the video gaming ecosystem and to encourage tribal youth to pursue careers in this thriving global industry.”
