Northern Michigan University and Bay Mills Community College launch first-in-state Anishinaabemowin language and culture certification program for education students
A partnership between two colleges in Michigan's Upper Peninsula establishes a certification program which aims to prepare K-12 education students to include Native American language, history, and culture in their future classrooms.
A new opportunity for students pursuing a career in teaching has arisen through a partnership between Northern Michigan University and Bay Mills Community College. Upon completion, the Native American Education Certification will be a part of a student's official transcript, allowing them to incorporate Anishinaabemowin studies into their future classrooms. A press release from NMU provides details of the certification and explains the importance of including Native American history, language, and culture in primary and secondary schools. The certification is the first of its kind in Michigan.
According to the NMU press release, students can earn the Native American Education Certification in one of two ways: by finishing the Associate of Arts degree in Anishinaabe language instruction at BMCC, or by completing language courses and a series of four courses specified by the NMU Center for Native American Studies. Both options also require completion of the required classes by NMU's School of Education, Leadership, and Public Service.
Director of the Center for Native American Studies at NMU, Amber Morseau, described the partnership and certification by pointing out the uniqueness of the program and the significance of including Native American Studies in the field of education. "This is the first and only state-certified Anishinaabemowin teaching certificate in Michigan," Morseau said, adding, "This partnership with Bay Mills Community College puts NMU in a distinct position of offering this 2+2 program and further legitimizes the discipline of Native American studies. How we partner the curricula at Bay Mills and Northern is forward-thinking in terms of teaching the importance and relevance of Indigenous knowledge through language and culture."
Because it is a new program, the Michigan Department of Education conditioned its approval on the expectation that NMU will assess both the language and teacher preparation standards of students who complete the Native American Education Certification.