Michigan State University (MSU) regularly offers Introductory Anishinaabemowin I & II, focused on Ojibwe (Chippewa) and Odawa (Ottawa) dialects, through the Less Commonly Taught Languages Program at MSU. Taking Anishinaabemowin at MSU can count towards the Minor in American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS). For more information and additional resources, check out the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program.
Anishinaabemowin I
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This course introduces students to Anishinaabemowin (the Ojibwe language) at the beginner level, with an emphasis on speaking, listening, reading, and writing in culturally grounded ways. Students will gain a foundation in pronunciation, basic vocabulary, and sentence structures while also exploring the cultural and historical contexts in which the language is used. Classroom activities include conversation practice, storytelling, and engagement with Anishinaabe worldviews, values, and traditions as expressed through language. By the end of the semester, students will be able to introduce themselves, hold simple conversations, and demonstrate an understanding of Anishinaabemowin as a living language that continues to thrive across Native communities today. No prior knowledge of the language is required.
Anishinaabemowin II
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This course builds on skills developed in Introduction to Anishinaabemowin I, further strengthening students’ abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will expand their vocabulary, practice more complex sentence structures, and deepen their conversational skills through culturally relevant activities such as storytelling, songs, and dialogue practice. Emphasis is placed on understanding the relationships between language, land, and community, and on recognizing Anishinaabemowin as central to Anishinaabe identity and continuity. By the end of the course, students will be able to participate in extended conversations, interpret simple texts, and demonstrate a growing awareness of the responsibilities involved in learning and using Anishinaabemowin respectfully.