A new Indigenous language program officially launched this week at the University of Winnipeg.
On Monday, the university welcomed its inaugural cohort of students, a group of 17 who will begin their studies this week.
This new program will allow students to build fluency in Anishinaabemowin through an immersive language environment and help promote the language for generations to come.
Students in the cohort will learn Anishinaabemowin together, approximately fifteen hours per week, all year round.
Students will also engage with the Anishinaabe-speaking community over shared meals and special events with teachers and language speakers.
Courses taken through the cohort are university-accredited and may be used toward Certificate and/or Bachelor of Arts credentials
The program, created last fall, was made possible thanks to $2.3 million in funding from the Province of Manitoba, making it Manitoba’s first immersion degree program designed for second-language learners.
The University of Winnipeg says this program represents an important step in supporting Indigenous language revitalization across Manitoba.
