Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department

Mission Statement

The original spoken language of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian community is in a critical state of loss. If action is not taken immediately the language that was spoken for thousands of years will be lost forever. The mission of the Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department (ALRD) is to bring Anishinaabemowin back to the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal community and generate fluent first language speakers. Anishinaabemowin is vital to the tribal sovereignty and the survival of our people.

Language Staff

Left to right: Isabelle Osawamick, Margaret Flamand, Rhonda Hopkins and Linze Ritter

About the ALRD

Our Anishinaabe teachings tell us that our language is sacred because it is a gift from the creator. Therefore, we must protect it from becoming lost. He gave it exclusively to the Anishinaabek people, and he loves to hear us speaking it. That’s why we use it in prayer. The Saginaw Chippewa Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department is a new department working to revitalize Anishinaabemowin in the Saginaw Chippewa community. The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Council passed Resolution No. 08-103 on June 4th, 2008 which supports the efforts put forth by the Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Committee (now the ALRD) to create fluency and fluent speakers.

One of the first steps to fostering fluency is the opening of a new Immersion Room for Toddlers (ages ranging from 1½ to 3 years) coming this fall. The children will be taught their entire curriculum in Anishinaabemowin including their bus ride to and from school. This method of language acquisition is called the Natural Approach. Studies have shown that this is the best way to acquire a new language. This is also how we learned English.

While the children will be hearing Anishinaabemowin all day at school, they will still primarily be hearing English at home. Therefore, the ALRD will be working with the parents to help them speak Anishinaabemowin in the home as well.

Our beautiful Anishinaabek binojiiyag will become bilingual in the process.

Contact Info

Currently, the language department is housed in the building directly behind the Education Administration building - also known as the "Old Youth Center.”

Mailing Address:

  • Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department
    7070 E. Broadway Rd.
    Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858

Phone:

  • (989) 775-4026

FAX:

  • (989) 775-4091

Email: