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Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department


Foraging
Published: 5/11/2022 1:24:00 PM - Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department

Thursday, May 12, 2022 *May 13 will serve as backup day in case of rain.
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Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Committee Vacancy
Published: 1/26/2022 11:18:00 AM - Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department

Seeking four (4) individuals who are committed to revitalizing Anishinaabemowin
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Anishinaabemowin Challange
Published: 5/19/2021 9:21:00 AM - Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department

Do a 15 minute Zoom appointment and learn up to 4 phrases in Anishinaabemowin.
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Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department
Published: 3/23/2021 11:19:00 AM - Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department

Due to Covid-19 and for the safety of our community, Immersion House and ALRD building are open by appointment only.
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Keith Smith Appointments
Published: 2/23/2021 9:58:00 AM - Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department

Keith Smith is coming to ALRD building on Thursday February 25 and Friday February 26, 2021. Attached is the flyer. Please call to schedule an appointment.
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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.

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.

There are three immersion classrooms serving students age 2, 3 and 4 years of age. The children are taught their entire curriculum along with daily conversations in Anishinaabemowin.  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 how we learned English as well.

While the children will be hearing Anishinaabemowin all day at school, they will still primarily be hearing English at home. Therefore, the ALRD continue to support Parents language acquisition so they can speak  Anishinabemowin in the home as well.
Through this process our beautiful Anishinaabek binojiiyag will become bilingual.

New for the 2015-16 school year, ALRD will focus outreach to expecting parents and families of infant and toddlers and those Sasiwaans Alumni students now attending Tribal or local public schools.

Location and Contact:

The ALRD Main Office and Language Center is located next to the Sasiwaans Immersion School and the Slot Palace/Bingo Hall.

Anishinaabe Language Revitalization Department
7178 Ogemaw Drive, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858

989-775-4026

Misty Pelcher, Interim Early Childhood Manager

mispelcher@sagchip.org

989-775-4470

Mary Alice Perez, Administrative Assistant II

maperez@sagchip.org

989-775-4026

Isabella Osawamick, Language Outreach Specialist

iosawamick@sagchip.org

989-775-4110