University of Manitoba students push for Indigenous language degree programs

Students at the University of Manitoba are lobbyinguniversities to create official degreeand diploma programs in Indigenous languages, one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.

The ReconciliAction campaign was started by Noah Wilson and the University of Manitoba Aboriginal Students Association.

"It's about bringing light to the TRC Calls to Action, and ensuring that the calls to action are being implemented," said Wilson, who isthe co-president of the Aboriginal Students Association.

The campaign is launching in Winnipeg, but will be a part of a larger push later this year by the Canadian Federation of Studentsto get Indigenous language degree and diploma programs implemented at universities and colleges across the country.

• Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada

Tuesday's launch featured separate panels that includedelders, students and administrators. It also included a keynote address by the University of Manitoba presidentDavid Barnard.

Barnard praised the campaign saying that the preservation of Indigenous languages is criticaland that the university is committed to addressing Call to Action 16 at the U of M.

"We already have some [Indigenous language] courses in place," saidBarnard.

"We're advertising for faculty so we will be increasing what we're doing."

Language revitalization

Aandeg Muldrew, 19, is a sessional instructor at the University of Manitoba, teachingIntro to Ojibway.

"Language is an important part of who we are," said Muldrew.

"The TRC is addressing those things that have been taken away, and mainly one of those things was the language."

Muldrew started learning the language at age ninefrom his grandmother, Patricia Ningewance.

He said that his father wasn't taught the language because his grandma was "blocked" from teaching him, an act that he blames on the effects of colonization.

Although he is a language teacher, he admits that he is still learning, and he's happy that he's able to pass the language on to other people.

He said he is excited about the possibility of having Indigenous language programs at a university level, but he wishes that Indigenous language degrees were already available.