Maajii-Anishnaabemdaa (Start Speaking the Language)

Description

The Maajii-Anishnaabemdaa certificate begins your foundational journey to speaking and understanding Anishnaabemowin, connecting you to Anishnaabe ways of being, traditional values, and history. Using an immersive approach and exploring themes such as home and community, you develop speaking, reading, and listening skills in Anishnaabemowin. You also learn how to write the language by studying writing systems and practicing Anishnaabemowin grammar structures. To build fluency and confidence in Anishnaabemowin, you practice vocabulary, speaking, and listening skills with classmates, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers, and through the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) technology. The program further embeds experiential learning opportunities to practice Anishnaabemowin within the community and through land-based activities, emphasizing the vital connection between language and culture.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program may find employment in Indigenous organizations, daycares, Indigenous Friendship Centres, and First Nation communities. 

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. communicate at an introductory level in Anishnaabemowin including reading, writing, listening and speaking to develop functional literacy skills;
2. use the Fiero writing system as it relates to Anishnaabemowin to express ideas and tell stories in a variety of contexts;
3. identify spoken Anishnaabemowin in a variety of contexts within and outside the community;
4. sustain Indigenous ways of being, knowing and doing inherent in Anishnaabemowin through knowledge sharing of Anishnaabe cultural values and history;
5. speak with peers and community members using introductory functional oral fluency in Anishnaabemowin.

Program Progression

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake - Barrie

• Sem 1: Fall 2025
• Sem 2: Winter 2026

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, mature student status with

• Grade 12 English (C or U)

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Additional Information

Upon completion of the one year certificate program, students have the opportunity to continue their Anishnaabemowin learning journey by transitioning to Anishnaabemowin and Program Development - a diploma that focusses on language and skills development in order to create and implement sustainable Anishnaabemowin programs in Indigenous communities and organizations. 

Graduation Requirements

9 Program Courses
2 Anishnaabemowin Labs
2 Communications Courses
1 General Education Courses

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline.

Program Tracking

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
Program Courses
ANPD 1000	History of Anishnaabemowin	42
ANPD 1001	Writing Systems	42
ANPD 1002	Verbs and Nouns 1	42
ANPD 1003	Language in the Home	42
INDG 1001	Indigenous Heritage, Tradition and Culture	42
Anishnaabemowin Lab
ANPD 1010	Anishnaabemdaa 1	84
Communications Course
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.		42
	Hours	336
Semester 2
Program Courses
ANPD 1006	Language in the Community	42
ANPD 1007	Verbs and Nouns 2	42
ANPD 1008	Anishnaabemowin Resources 1	42
ANPD 1011	Interactive Anishnaabemowin	42
Anishnaabemowin Lab
ANPD 1012	Anishnaabemdaa 2	84
Communications Course
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.		42
General Education Course
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.		42
	Hours	336
	Total Hours	672

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of one year (as stated above) may take a maximum of two years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.