Indigenous Languages

Our new thematic major in Indigenous Languages seeks to revitalize languages such as Cree and Ojibwe. Indigenous languages are the foundation of Indigenous knowledge and communities. The Indigenous Languages Thematic Major provides students with an interdisciplinary education in Indigenous Languages that focuses on revitalization, planning, and communication. Students will explore the causes of language shift and endangerment while being introduced to — or enhancing understanding of — these languages through community learning methods. The ways in which Indigenous languages have evolved will be examined, and students will learn about the process of language reclamation and what communities have done to preserve their language.

Graduates of the program will join a growing community of people who are dedicated to, and have the skills to support, ongoing learning, speaking, researching, and teaching Indigenous languages, contributing to the revitalization of Indigenous languages.