I first encountered David Plamondon on a blustery Edmonton afternoon at a local Indigenous entrepreneurship showcase. Tucked away in a modest corner booth, he wasn’t selling traditional artwork or crafts like many others—instead, he was inviting people to play games. Not just any games, but ones he had meticulously designed to reflect Indigenous teachings, stories, and worldviews.
“Gaming creates this unique space where we can share culture without it feeling like a lecture,” Plamondon told me, his eyes lighting up as children and adults gathered around his table. “When people are having fun, they’re more open to learning.“
As an Anishinaabe entrepreneur from Edmonton, Plamondon has carved out a distinctive niche in our city’s growing Indigenous business landscape. His company, Indigenous Gaming Enterprises, develops board games, card games, and digital applications that incorporate First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultural elements, stories, and language.
“I saw this gap between traditional cultural teaching methods and how younger generations are engaging with the world,” Plamondon explained. “Games bridge that gap naturally.”
The journey to becoming Edmonton’s foremost Indigenous gaming entrepreneur wasn’t straightforward. Plamondon previously worked in the social services sector, where he witnessed firsthand the need for culturally relevant educational tools. His experience working with youth programs at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre gave him insight into how engaging activities could facilitate cultural connection.
“Kids would zone out during traditional teaching sessions, but light up during game time,” he recalled. “It got me thinking—what if the games themselves were the teachings?”
His first creation, “Four Directions,” a strategic card game based on Medicine Wheel teachings, took two years to develop. Working closely with elders and knowledge keepers ensured cultural accuracy while maintaining playability—a balance Plamondon considers essential.
“Cultural authenticity can’t be compromised, but neither can fun. If it’s not enjoyable, people won’t engage with it long enough to absorb the cultural elements,” he said.
The Edmonton gaming scene has embraced Plamondon’s innovative approach. Table Top Café, a popular local gaming hub, regularly features Indigenous Gaming Nights where curious gamers can try his creations while learning about Indigenous perspectives.
Lewis Cardinal, a prominent Indigenous community leader in Edmonton, praised Plamondon’s work during a recent community gathering. “What David is doing represents the modern expression of our storytelling traditions. He’s taking our ancient wisdom and presenting it through contemporary means that speak to today’s generations.”
The impact extends beyond entertainment. Several Edmonton schools have incorporated Plamondon’s games into their curriculum, particularly supporting the integration of Indigenous perspectives as mandated by Alberta Education’s Truth and Reconciliation commitments.
Jacqueline Grenier, a Grade 4 teacher at Riverdale Elementary, shared her experience: “These games have transformed how my students engage with Indigenous content. The cultural concepts stick because they’re experiencing them rather than just hearing about them.“
Plamondon’s latest project tackles language preservation, an urgent concern for many Indigenous communities. “Nehiyaw Speaks,” a mobile app game, teaches Cree language basics through interactive challenges and storytelling. Developed in collaboration with fluent Cree speakers from Maskwacis, the app has been downloaded over 7,000 times since its launch four months ago.
“Language carries our worldview,” Plamondon explained as he demonstrated the app. “When you learn to say ‘askîy’ instead of ‘earth,’ you’re not just learning a translation—you’re absorbing a relationship with the land that’s embedded in that word.”
The entrepreneurial journey hasn’t been without challenges. Securing funding initially proved difficult, as Plamondon’s concept didn’t fit neatly into either traditional business or cultural grant categories. Support eventually came through Business Link’s Indigenous Business Services and the Alberta Indian Investment Corporation, which recognized the potential of his unique approach.
“The business ecosystem is slowly adapting to understand Indigenous entrepreneurship can look different,” Plamondon noted. “Our businesses often have cultural revitalization and community wellbeing built into their core mission, not just as add-on social responsibility initiatives.”
This community focus remains central to Plamondon’s work. He regularly hosts workshops at Edmonton’s Indigenous gathering spaces, teaching game design as a form of modern storytelling. These sessions have inspired several young Indigenous creators to develop their own games.
“Success isn’t just about sales,” he reflected. “It’s about creating sustainable cultural transmission methods that work for future generations.“
As our city’s cultural landscape continues to evolve, entrepreneurs like Plamondon represent the innovative spirit driving reconciliation through practical, engaging approaches. By fusing traditional knowledge with contemporary mediums, he’s created something uniquely Edmontonian—rooted in the land’s original teachings while embracing modern expressions.
“Games have always been part of Indigenous cultures,” Plamondon reminded me as we concluded our conversation. “I’m not inventing something new—I’m continuing a tradition in a way that speaks to today’s reality.”
For those interested in experiencing these cultural games firsthand, Indigenous Gaming Enterprises products are available at several local shops including Audrey’s Books and Mother Earth Essentials, as well as through their website.
In a world often divided by screens and isolation, Plamondon’s work offers something increasingly precious—opportunities to gather, learn, and connect through play, all while strengthening understanding of the Indigenous cultures that have shaped our city since long before it bore its current name.
