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Indigenous Language Revitalization (MA)

Join a generation of language experts at the forefront of Indigenous language revitalization efforts. In this program, you'll be a language scholar with the expertise to lead in post-secondary institutions and communities. Learn how to support the revitalization, reclamation and maintenance of Indigenous languages.

The MA program is thesis-based. We also offer a project-based MEd program. Both programs are delivered in a cohort model every 2 years.

The program is delivered online combined with classes on the UVic campus in an intensive format. You’ll attend classes for approximately 3 weeks during the first summer, then several 5-8 day sessions throughout the year.

If you’re unable to complete the full program, you can apply to receive the Graduate Certificate as an exit credential after the first two terms of this program.

Expected length Project or thesis Course-based
2 years Yes No

Quick facts

Program options:
Master's
Study options:
Full-time study
Program delivery:
Blended

Find a supervisor

All graduate students in this program must have a faculty member who serves as their academic supervisor. When you apply:

  • you must list a potential supervisor on your application
  • this faculty member must agree to be your supervisor and recommend your admission

To find a potential supervisor, review the faculty contacts. When you've found a faculty member whose research complements your own, contact them by email.

Belinda kakiyosēw Daniels

Assistant Professor Indigenous Language Revitalization, Indigenous education, Indigenous pedagogy, Immersion camps, land-based education, Indigenous language decolonial assessment and proficiency, Indigenous methodologies, applied linguistics, additional language methods

Carmen Rodriguez de France

Associate Professor Indigenous education, diversity and social justice, second language acquisition, Indigenous early childhood education, teacher education, arts-based and place-based education, formal and non-formal education, community-engaged scholarship

Carmen Wiigwaas Craig

Assistant Teaching Professor Indigenous language revitalization, Urban Indigenous language learning, Community-driven language planning, Language and data sovereignty, Dialect variation and standardization, Adult Indigenous language learning, Task-based language teaching, Indigenous curriculum design, Universal Design for Learning, Accessible language learning, Language teacher education, Community-engaged research

chuutsqa L. Rorick

Assistant Professor Indigenous language revitalization, reclamation, and maintenance, Knowledge co-creation, Indigenous methodologies, Indigenous data sovereignty, Indigenous language learning technologies, Land-based learning, Indigenous research, Indigenous archiving

Dawn Smith

Assistant Professor Indigenous education, curriculum development, Indigenous governance and worldviews, nature and relationality, renewable energy, climate change, Indigenous self-determination, Indigenous community development

Edōsdi (Judy) Thompson

Associate Professor Indigenous research methodologies and community-based research, Indigenous language revitalization and reclamation, Indigenous language and health and wellbeing, Art as cultural reclamation, Ancestral knowledge systems, Indigenous curricula and pedagogy

Hector Vazquez-Cordoba

Assistant Teaching Professor Indigenous ways of knowing and being, music education, decolonizing and Indigenizing music education, Indigenous methodologies and methods, educational policy, epistemologies of the South

Jean-Paul Restoule

Professor, Chair Decolonizing education, Indigenous research methods and methodologies, Indigenizing teacher education, Indigenous knowledge, worldviews, cosmologies and epistemologies, Anishinaabe curriculum and pedagogy, Indigenous representation, Indigenous student post-secondary success, Indigenous knowledges in online learning

Lauren Jerke

Assistant Professor Indigenous education, Indigenous pedagogy, drama education, applied theatre, arts-based research, drama to address social justice, drama to support decolonization, drama with gatekeepers

Accepting graduate students

Program details

Providing you accurate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fee estimates and scholarships depends on your situation. Tell us about yourself:

Program details

This information assumes you are . If this is incorrect, please update your information.

Application deadlines

September – apply by January 31
September – apply by January 31

Admission requirements

Program specific requirements

  • Two confidential assessment reports by two references. They can be professional colleagues, professors or other academic authority. We also accept an Indigenous language authority or recognized equivalent confirming fluency in an Indigenous language (admission via modified academic requirements).
  • Statement of intent (500 word max). State your goals with respect to your education and how you would like to build on your practical experience in Indigenous language revitalization in Indigenous communities. This will be submitted during the online application process.
  • Transcripts (can be unofficial), submitted during online application process.

Exceptional entry

Exceptional entry is available to applicants without an undergraduate degree. You must have extensive expertise in the language and culture of your community and have significant leadership experience in language and culture revitalization projects. Exceptional entry applications must provide:

  • a profile or CV
  • a portfolio indicating previous education (certificates and diplomas), related professional experience and training
  • an additional letter of reference attesting to your level of fluency from an Indigenous language authority

Program specific requirements

  • Two confidential assessment reports by two references. They can be professional colleagues, professors or other academic authority. We also accept an Indigenous language authority or recognized equivalent confirming fluency in an Indigenous language (admission via modified academic requirements).
  • Statement of intent (500 word max). State your goals with respect to your education and how you would like to build on your practical experience in Indigenous language revitalization in Indigenous communities. This will be submitted during the online application process.
  • Transcripts (can be unofficial), submitted during online application process.

Exceptional entry

Exceptional entry is available to applicants without an undergraduate degree. You must have extensive expertise in the language and culture of your community and have significant leadership experience in language and culture revitalization projects. Exceptional entry applications must provide:

  • a profile or CV
  • a portfolio indicating previous education (certificates and diplomas), related professional experience and training
  • an additional letter of reference attesting to your level of fluency from an Indigenous language authority

Completion requirements

View the minimum course requirements for this program.
View the minimum course requirements for this program.

Funding & aid

Tuition & fees

Estimated minimum program cost*

* Based on an average program length. For a per term fee breakdown view the tuition fee estimator.

Estimated values determined by the tuition fee estimator shall not be binding to the University of Victoria.

Ready to apply?

You can start your online application to UVic by creating a new profile or using an existing one.

Apply now    How to apply

Need help?

Contact Colleen Juricic at iedlpa@uvic.ca or 250-721-7824.

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