Odawa Institute Our Goals

The institute has two primary goals, revitalization of Anishnaabemowin and living the Anishnaabe culture. To do this the Institute will provide a variety of cultural activities. Along with each activity a language component will be implemented.

The long range plan for Anishnaabemowin revitalization:

1) Program instructional components implemented with both master instructors and student teachers

a) Evening language instruction

b) Onsite Instruction will be provided for:

i) Day-cares

ii) Head Start

iii) Tribal government office and enterprises

iv) Public schools

v) Colleges

c) Immersion projects

i) Immersion projects are planned in two formats

(1) Continuous immersion meant to develop fluent speakers

(2) Short 5 minute to one hour immersions meant to teach words actions or concepts

2) Teacher Preparation

a) Intense immersion instruction for teacher development with master instructors

b) Intense immersion instruction for teacher development with elders

c) Curriculum development instruction for student teachers

d) Teacher instruction for student teachers

e) Master instructors will be used for:

i) Adult evening classes

ii) Student teacher intense immersion

f) Elders will provide us with the following:

i) Cultural guidance for program director, master instructors, student teachers, and immersion projects

ii) Student teacher intense immersion

iii) Curriculum translation with student teachers

g) Student teachers will be used for beginning classes and community projects such as:

i) Curriculum translations with the elders

ii) Head Start language introduction

iii) Daycare language introduction

iv) Immersion project implementations

v) Tribal government office and enterprise language instruction

3) Development of Immersion Projects

a) Each immersion project will consist of a curriculum guide, a set of beginner, intermediate, and advanced lesson plans, and an immersion implementation guide.

b) Immersion projects are planned for the following:

i) Casual conversation, health, weather, relatives

ii) Making a lodge and performing Sweat Lodges

iii) Head Start and daycare activities

iv) Ghost Suppers

v) Pow Wows

vi) Making syrup

vii) Making black ash and quill baskets

viii) Drumming and singing

ix) Skits

x) Making Jiimaan

xi) Making fires

xii) Making sugar

xiii) General office activities

xiv) Playing cards

4) Curriculum Development

a) Curriculums will be developed in English for each component of the project: Evening language instruction, Onsite instructions, and Immersion projects. Each component will have three levels of lessons, for beginning, intermediate, and advanced learners.

b) Student teachers will work with elders to translate lessons into Odawa.

c) Curricula will be written in the English to Odawa format.

d) Lessons will be written in Odawa with literal English translations.

e) Lessons will be Web enabled in a no translation format

f) Elder translations will be preserved in audio and video formats when possible

5) Implementation of lessons will be entirely in Anishnaabemowin with no translations