| Summary: | Indigenous languages across Turtle Island, now known as North America, are in danger of becoming extinct. Gallery (2016) states that currently, only 60 of the previous 300 Indigenous languages that existed are being spoken. McIvor (1998) explains that language loss does not have to be a personal experience for one to feel the effects of it and that in fact language loss can be passed down through generations. The dire state of Indigenous languages across Canada is a direct result of historical and current laws and policies designed to assimilate Indigenous people’s languages to future generations, resulting in a significant decline of languages over time. Indigenous communities are working to save their languages through various methods including, but not limited to, immersion programming, language nests, and language programming at all levels of educational institutions. With this work in mind, the United Nations declared 2022-2023 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, highlighting the need to preserve the Indigenous languages that are disappearing at an alarming rate (UNESCO, 2022). The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of an Anishinaabemowin pilot (language programming) in local schools on urban Indigenous youth and to observe how access to language programming in schools can contribute to Indigenous language revitalization efforts and cultural pride and confidence in Indigenous learners. The research was informed by four research questions: 1.) How does the language program benefit both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students? 2.) How can naturalizing Indigenous knowledge deconstruct the Eurocentric belief of ‘what is curriculum’? 3.) How can Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members support further language learning in our communities to create more fluent speakers? 4.) In what ways can we encourage teachers to continue with language revitalization work and teaching Indigenous content when the pilot is over? This study was conducted using a qualitative approach to research and ...
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