Preserving Culture, Empowering Generations

With only an estimated 700 First Language speakers of Ojibwe left in the United States and approximately only 320,000 Ojibwe People in the United States and Canada, our language and traditions are at risk of extinction. At Nashke Games, we’re revitalizing Ojibwe culture through engaging games that empower all generations to connect, learn, and preserve our heritage for the future.

Losing language and culture is a familiar story in our Native communities.

Our founder, Tony Drews, experienced this firsthand and is dedicated to helping write a new story for future generations. At Nashke Games, we create tools that empower the next generation to embrace and carry forward the Ojibwe language and culture.

Tony’s great-great grandmother

Only spoke Ojibwe

Tony’s grandmother

Sent to boarding school where she wasn’t allowed to speak Ojibwe

Tony’s father

Only speaks English

Tony

Bringing language back!

Preserving Native language and culture through the joy of play, education, and community.

Our Vision

Nashke Native Games aims to be an integral part of language and culture acquisition for Native American communities so that Native Languages and Culture are known to all.

Our Mission

Increase awareness of Ojibwe language and culture through gameplay, support the Native community through scholarships and other investments, and help other tribes do the same.

Our Values

  • Authenticity and Transparency

    doing things the right way. In the gathering of the knowledge and teachings that are shared through our games

  • Play and Wonder

    as the basis for building connection to the knowledge we aspire to communicate through our games

  • Education and Wisdom

    protect our language and customs from becoming extinct

  • Support and Community

    to support our communities' cultural empowerment.

Meet the Team

  • Tony (Chinoodin) Drews

    FOUNDER & CEO

    Read Bio

  • Waapishki Kiisis Ikwe (Mindy Meyers)

    CO-FOUNDER & COO

    Read Bio

  • Sophie Glass

    ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

    Read Bio

  • Gabrielle Farrel

    ARTIST

  • William Brien

    ARTIST

  • Chelsea Smith

    ARTIST

  • Nicole Beane

    EVENT STAFF / ARTIST

  • Justyne Vogel

    EVENT STAFF

  • Serenity Williams

    EVENT STAFF

  • Adrianna Warden

    EVENT STAFF

Nashke Games aims to transform Ojibwe culture and language into reimagined-traditional, and contemporary gameplay to support Ojibwe language and culture preservation, acquisition, and revitalization.

The story behind our logo

The Nashke Native Games brand is as deeply rooted in culture as its mission. The logo was inspired by Anishinaabe petroglyphs which embody the gestural nature of play.

The figure is both celebratory and inviting, welcoming everyone to the table to play, practice language, and build new connections through cultural teachings.