A new Flash-based game is in development in Canada designed to teach "First Nation" youth about their heritage and how their people have gotten to where they are today.

The game, created by Charleton University and funded by Canadian Heritage, is being created as an educational tool to keep the history, culture and teaching of the indiginous Canadian tribes alive, according to a story in Ontario's Sudbury Star. Called The Path of the Elders, the game is already in beta on the official web site. Also on the site are videos and stories about various tribes.

The story talks to John Medicine Horse Kelly, a Charleton University professor who has been instrumental in helping get the game off the ground:

"The idea is to use the Internet to reconnect the chain between the elders, the culture and the youth. [The game] has the same visual appeal and the same challenging elements (as other popular games), but the lessons are cultural."

Kelly said that the suicide rate among Natives aged 15-24 is alarming and that the game may help alleviate that:

"When a young person looks in the mirror in the morning and he has no connection to his elders, to his identity, he sees no reflection. He sees a ghost. What he needs to see is his ancestors, his elders standing behind him making him what he is."

The game is being developed by Canadian firm BlackCherry Digital Media.

Video games as learning tools got a boost on Wednesday when the Canadian Council of Learning released an article concluding that educators should use all media available, including games, to encourage children to learn.