Students graduate from Ojibwa immersion program

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This past May, 25 students graduated from Ontario's first ever community college-level immersion program in Anishinaabemowin.

The one-year program was the result of a 16-week pilot project undertaken in January 2004 by Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology.

"We wanted to see if there was interest in the community and the response was pretty overwhelming," said Carolyn Hepburn, director of Native Education and Training for Sault College.

With Ontario's push for Indigenous people to retain and revitalize their language, the pilot project took off.

The result was the two-semester program, which offered 95 per cent immersion in Anishinaabemowin, which included instruction in the three similar languages of Ojibwa, Odawa, and Potawatami. These are the languages that fall within Sault College's catchment area.

For the pilot project, students covered the full cost of the program through their tuition. But approval for the 2004-2005 program from the province's Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, reduced the tuition.

One full-time Ojibwa language instructor was hired, along with a part-time instructor and tutors.

The make-up of the classroom provided some challenges, said Hepburn. Students' ages ranged from 20 to 70, while language understanding varied from those who could simply say "hello" to others who had a good working knowledge. What transpired, she said, was that those with a better grasp of Anishinaabemowin helped those who understood it less.

"It was really amazing to see the confidence and pride of students coming out of the program," said Hepburn.

Along with learning the language, students were also immersed in First Nations' culture. Courses included writing, storytelling methods and legends, and singing, using both contemporary and traditional songs. A cultural component explored Native values and spirituality and how Anishinaabemowin reflected the culture.

Those graduating from the program earned a one-year certificate in language, which will give them an advantage in the linguistic, educational, social service and criminal justice fields within Aboriginal communities and working with Aboriginal clients.

But Hepburn is hoping that the one-year certificate will only be a stepping stone to further education for the college's language students. Sault College has initiated talks with local Algoma University to transfer some credits from the college's program to the university's degree in Anishinaabemowin and Indigenous Studies. Students will still be required to meet Algoma University's admission standards, but if they do, Hepburn would like to see them get credit for work done in Sault College's Anishinaabemowin program.

While this year's Anishinaabemowin program's students were all Aboriginal, Hepburn said the program is open to all. Spaces are limited to 30 and are filling quickly for the 2005-2006 term.

For more information about the program, visit the Sault College Web site at www.saultcollege.ca, or call the registrar's office at 1-800-461-2260.