Developer: Studio Ekosi Based in Edmonton, Alberta
Founded: May 2020
Website: under construction
Socials: Studio Ekosi Twitter Studio Ekosi Instagram Studio Ekosi Itch.io
Contact: [email protected]
Projects:
Studio Ekosi is an independent Indigenous digital media studio based in Alberta, Canada, founded by Nehiyaw (Plains Cree) sisters Keara and Caeleigh Lightning.
Through narrative-driven games and animated films, Studio Ekosi aim to create moments of joy, worlds that spark wonder, and characters people see themselves in.
ᐁᑯᓯ “Ekosi” means “That’s it” or “that’s enough” in nehiyawewin. It’s a phrase used to indicate when you’re finished speaking.
Keara Lightning is a Nehiyawiskwew from Samson Cree Nation. She is the lead writer and game designer for Studio Ekosi.
Keara is completing a Masters of Native Studies at the University of Alberta, where she writes and teaches about Indigenous-led science and ecology.
Caeleigh Lightning is a Cree and Irish 2 Spirit artist and a member of Samson Cree Nation, completing her Masters of Design at Concordia University. She is a research assistant at the Initiative for Indigenous Futures, and the lead artist and illustrator at Studio Ekosi. Much of her work comes from her experiences as a queer, displaced Nehiyaw, exploring themes of sexuality, love, and interconnectedness.