In an effort to preserve an Indigenous language, Fanshawe College is offering a new course.
The college is in partnering with the Oneida Nation of the Thames to create a course: Oneida - Language Immersion, Culture and Teaching.
The three year diploma course will give students the ability to teach Onyota’a:ka as a second language, and give them to ability to serve as a translator, language consultant, or storyteller.
According to a news release from Fanshawe College, there are fewer than 20 people in the Oneida of the Thames community who can speak and understand the language.
“If we lose the language now, we’re going to lose another part of our culture,” said program coordinator Hubert Antone, who is 70.
“It’s one of the hardest languages in the world to learn,” Antone added, “It will be essential that they hear the correct pronunciation and feel the meaningful relationships coming from a fluent speaker.”
There will be opportunities for students to practice in the community, according to the college.Those looking to enroll in the course can do so as early as this September. Contact academic advisor Bev Antone-Collar for more information.
