Bay Mills Community College, NMU partner to create more Anishinaabemowin teachers

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - You have the chance to immerse yourself in a special Anishinaabemowin education program.

Bay Mills Community College and Northern Michigan University officials signed a new articulation agreement on Wednesday. Bay Mills President Duane Bedell says the partnership grows the language’s influence.

“As our elders are passing away, the language is dying with them,” Bedell said. “So, with programs like this, this will help keep the language alive.”

NMU Associate Dean of Teacher Education Joe Lubig says students will earn an associate’s degree in the Bay Mills’ immersive language program. Then, they’ll transfer to NMU for a bachelor’s degree in Native American studies.

Instead of a written exam, Lubig says there’s an oral proficiency exam with a native speaker.

“To have our tribal leaders and elders being the ones to initiate that hand-off, that trust, for the language to be taught by that individual to others is a really big deal,” Lubig said.

Notably, the program offers the only Anishinaabemowin teaching certificate in the state. Lubig says the license allows people to teach Anishinaabemowin in the K-12 school system, creating a deeper connection between kids and the language.

“To literature, to history, to community cultural events, tribal events,” Lubig said. “It’s a way to structure meaning and [the] ongoing legacy of the language and the culture.”

Bedell says learning from elders is part of the culture.

“If we can learn a language from our elders to ensure that the translations are correct, to ensure the pronunciations are correct, that’s vital so that the language can continue to carry out for future generations,” Bedell said.

He hopes Anishinaabemowin reaches not just the U.P. but the entire state.

If you’re interested, contact Bay Mills Community College to start the program.

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