Indigenous Language Revitalization
Why choose Indigenous Language Revitalization at UVic?
For more than 45 years, UVic has partnered with Indigenous organizations, Elders, community researchers and language experts to support language revitalization. BC is home to over 60% of First Nations languages in Canada, and communities across the province continue to work to strengthen and reclaim them.
In this program, you’ll deepen your own language proficiency while learning teaching approaches that honour community knowledge. You’ll gain skills that support language revitalization efforts, both locally and nationally.
Explore program options
Practicums
Your practicum experiences help you turn classroom learning into real teaching practice.
Diploma practicum (Year 2)
As a student in the Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization, you will complete a three-week practicum at the end of your second year.
Bachelor of Education practicum (Year 4)
If you continue into the Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization, you will complete a six-week practicum at the end of your fourth year.
Why practicum matters
Both practicum placements give you:
- Hands-on experience teaching Indigenous languages
- Opportunities to apply culturally grounded and community-based methods
- Confidence working in K–12 learning environments
- Preparation for teaching in both band-run and public schools
These practicum experiences support your pathway toward becoming a BC-certified Indigenous language teacher.
Community-based learning
Your classes take place with and within Indigenous language communities. You’ll learn from:
- Local language instructors
- Resource people and Elders
- Community-based researchers
- Cultural knowledge keepers
This community-based approach supports learning that honours the knowledge, land relationships and governance systems embedded within Indigenous languages.
What you will learn
- Indigenous language proficiency
- Language reclamation practices and theories
- Curriculum development and community engagement
- Culturally grounded teaching strategies
- Classroom practice and K–12 instructional skills
- Approaches to Indigenous language revitalization across BC and Canada
Career possibilities
Graduates are prepared for careers such as:
- K–12 Indigenous language teacher (BC certified)
- Community language instructor
- Language revitalization coordinator
- Cultural education program specialist
- Curriculum developer
- Community educator or knowledge-keeper support role
Who this program is for
This program welcomes Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners who:
- Are committed to supporting Indigenous language revitalization
- Want to learn in partnership with Indigenous communities
- Want to gain language proficiency and culturally grounded teaching skills
- Are interested in teaching in K–12 settings or supporting community education.
Certificate programs
Indigenous Language Revitalization
The Certificate in Indigenous Language Revitalization (CILR) program provides a strong foundation of knowledge and skills to develop practical strategies for local language revitalization initiatives. The program offers hands-on learning opportunities that are rooted in traditional knowledge and practices, and that are accessible to all students.
This one-year program is delivered by Continuing Studies and the Department of Linguistics.
Indigenous Language Proficiency
The Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency (CILP) program supports Indigenous communities to create new adult speakers, by providing a strong foundation in language learning and language learning methods that will support ongoing language acquisition.
This one-year program is delivered by the Department of Indigenous Education.
Diploma program
The Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization (DILR) aims to support people who want to build on their Indigenous language proficiency, better understand the contexts in which Indigenous languages can be successfully taught, and gain some basic language teaching skills.
Apply to the DILR program after completing a CILR or CILP program.
Degree program
The Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization (BEDILR) builds on the skills and expertise you'll develop in the certificate and diploma programs. Upon graduation, you'll be certified to teach grades K-12 in band-run and public schools in British Columbia.
Transfer into the two-year BEDILR program after completing one year in the DILR program.
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Faculties & departments