Shawnee Tribe's Tecumseh Joins the Civilization Franchise

The Shawnee Tribe's Chief Ben Barnes recounts his excitement when the renowned game studio Firaxis approached the tribe to include their legendary leader Tecumseh as a playable character in the upcoming Civilization 7 game. This partnership represents a significant shift in the game's approach to accurately representing Indigenous cultures, a move that has been long overdue in the popular strategy franchise.

Preserving Shawnee Culture Through Gaming

Embracing a Digital Frontier

Chief Ben Barnes, a self-proclaimed avid gamer, grew up playing the Civilization series, including the 1999 title Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, where he spent countless hours colonizing a distant planet. When Firaxis, the studio behind the Civilization franchise, approached the Shawnee Tribe with a proposal to feature their renowned leader Tecumseh in the upcoming Civilization 7 game, Barnes was thrilled. "I was like, 'This can't be true,'" he recalled, "Do they want us to participate in the next version of Civilization?" This opportunity not only allowed the Shawnee Tribe to showcase their power and heritage but also provided a platform for their citizens to see themselves represented in popular culture, shaping a new, imagined future for the tribe.

Rewriting the Narrative

The Civilization series has long been a beloved staple among gamers, captivating millions with its intricate and addictive gameplay, rich historical context, and the ability to build and lead civilizations from the ground up. However, the franchise has faced criticism in the past for its casual treatment of history, particularly in its representation of Indigenous groups and the broader concept of colonization. Firaxis, the game's developer, acknowledged these past missteps and sought to collaborate closely with the Shawnee Tribe to ensure an authentic and sincere recreation of their culture in Civilization 7.

Preserving Language and Heritage

The partnership between Firaxis and the Shawnee Tribe represented an opportunity to not only improve the game's approach to representing Indigenous cultures but also to actively support the preservation and revitalization of the Shawnee language. As part of the collaboration, Firaxis and its publishing label, 2K Games, committed to donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to the tribe's language education programs and facilities. This investment in the Shawnee's linguistic heritage was a crucial aspect of the partnership, as it allowed the tribe to address the pressing need for language preservation while also contributing to the game's authenticity.

Voicing Tecumseh

The decision to feature Tecumseh, the renowned Shawnee military and political leader who united a confederation of Native American tribes to resist U.S. westward expansion in the early 19th century, was a significant one. When Shawnee actor Dean Dillon auditioned for a part that involved speaking the Shawnee language, he was unaware that he would be voicing the iconic Tecumseh. "I just gave it my best shot," Dillon said, "And then a few weeks later, I heard back and they said, 'We'd like to offer you the role of Tecumseh.' And my head exploded and I ran around the house yelling, 'My gosh! My gosh!'" The experience of hearing Tecumseh's voice come from his own was, in Dillon's words, "surreal, to say the least."

Evolving Representation in Gaming

The Civilization franchise has long included Indigenous leaders, starting with Montezuma of the Aztecs in the original 1991 game. However, the game's developers at the time were primarily focused on including familiar historical figures without much consideration for the weight of their representation. As the game's audience expanded beyond the U.S. and Europe, and as society's understanding of cultural appropriation and the importance of accurate historical framing evolved, the need for a more thoughtful and inclusive approach became increasingly apparent.

Navigating Sensitive Representation

The Civilization franchise has faced its fair share of challenges when it comes to the representation of Indigenous cultures. In 2010, Firaxis dropped plans to add a historical Pueblo leader after tribal leaders objected, and the inclusion of a Cree leader in 2018 faced public criticism in Canada. Recognizing the sensitivity and importance of accurately portraying these cultures, the developers at Firaxis knew that they would need the input and blessing of the Shawnee people to properly represent Tecumseh in Civilization 7.

A Badge of Honor

As the Civilization franchise has grown in popularity, with over 70 million games sold worldwide, the inclusion of a nation or culture in the game has become a badge of honor. Meier, the series' founder, acknowledged that the studio has been lobbied by different countries and communities to be represented in the game. However, this representation is not without its complexities, as some Indigenous leaders have expressed concerns that the game "perpetuates this myth that First Nations had similar values that the colonial culture has, and that is one of conquering other peoples and accessing their land."

Collaboration and Authenticity

The partnership between Firaxis and the Shawnee Tribe was a collaborative effort to ensure an authentic and sincere representation of Shawnee culture in Civilization 7. This involved asking the tribe questions about what a Shawnee university or library building of the future would look like, and creating new Shawnee words to describe futuristic concepts. By working closely with the Shawnee people, the game developers aimed to move beyond the casual treatment of history that had characterized the franchise in the past, and to create a meaningful and respectful portrayal of the tribe's heritage.