Gekinoo´imaagejig "The Ones Who Teach"

Eni–gikendaasoyang "Moving Towards Knowledge Together"

Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Language Revitalization

Department of Education – Collge of Education and Human Service Professions

Alumni

Study Abroad in Ireland

This fall as UMD´s Block ll Elementary Education Teaching cadidates were filling out their student teaching packets one of our own members, Michelle Defoe, asked what GST was, which is Global Student Teaching. She asked if Ireland was a possibility, upon further inquiry at the University we found that indeed Ireland was part of GST. Michelle enrolled in the University of Morris' study abroad program with the help of UMD's international education office. And so the ball started rolling.

UMD Graduated Largest Amercian Indian Teacher Education Group in State History Gekinoo'imaagejig 'The Ones Who Teach' is a collaboration between the Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College & UMD.

On May 17th 2003, UMD graduated the largest American Indian Teaacher education group in the history of Minnesota. It is also the first class in Minnesota history to gradute with a teaching minor in an Indigenous language (Ojibwe). This distinctive group is known as Gekinoo'imaagejig.

The cohort group is a collaboration between UMD & FDLTCC. The program aims to recruit, retain, and graduate American Indians interested in becoming teachers. The goal is to provide a culturally responsive curriculum utilizing culturally relevant ways of teaching and learning.

Gekinoo´imaagejig Cohort 1

The groups sixteen students, ages 22 - 50 years graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degree in elementary education from UMD. The students have joint admission at both schools and take all classes on the FDLTCC campus. In addition to obtaining a minor in Ojibwe language, the graduates have been trained with a foundation in the Ojibwe culture using the American Indian Learner Outcomes (AILOS), while fulfilling all requirements of the Minnesota Board of Teaching (BOT) standards and the National Council of Accrediating Teacher Education (NCATE) standards.

The May 17th commencement ceremonies, members wore embroidered sashed over their graduation robes. The sashed are red, yellow, white, and black representing the four colors of the Fond du Lac Band and the four directions--North, South, East, and West. Many of the graduates wore tradidtional regalia or ribboned shirts and ribboned dresses under their robes.

Funding for Gekinoo'imaagejig was provided through a grant from the Office of Indian Education, U.S Department of Education, and generous contributions from the UMD Ruth A. Meyers Endowed Chair in American Indian Education, and the Grotto Foundation.

(this article was modified from www.d.umn.edu/news/2003/May/07-B.html).