The Native Language Center aims to preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages at more than 30 Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) across the nation. In 2021, the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) developed a 3-year strategic plan for capacity-building to teach and maintain American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) languages at our nation’s TCUs.
300
Indigenous languages were once
spoken in the United States
spoken in the United States
175
Indigenous languages were once
spoken in the United States
spoken in the United States
35+
Indigenous languages were once
spoken in the United States
spoken in the United States
TCU Native Language Programs:
TCU Native language programs are authentic and unique. They are located in the communities where these languages are spoken. Some are the only academic institutions in the world where these Native languages are taught. The AIHEC initiative aims to connect and coordinate all TCU language programs to leverage resources and share best practices.
TCU Languages
Select a TCU name to see the languages taught at the college.
Aaniiih Nakoda College
The Languages Taught at This TCU:
Aaniih (Gros Ventre)
Nakoda (Assiniboine)
Program Type:
A.A. American Indian Studies
Bay Mills Community College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Anishinabe
Program Type:
A.A. Anishinabe Language Instruction; Anishinabemwin Pane Immersion school: 4- or 6-year diploma.
Blackfeet Community College
The Languages Taught at This TCU:
Piikani (Blackfeet)
Program Type:
A.A. Piikani Studies and Language
Cankdeska Cikana Community College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Dakota
Program Type:
A.A. Indigenous Studies, Dakota Language Certificate
Chief Dull Knife College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Cheyenne
Program Type:
A.A. Cheyenne Studies; A.A. Native American Studies
College of Menominee Nation
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Oneida
Menominee
College of Muskogee Nation
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Muskogee (Creek)
Program Type:
Certificate in Mvskoke Language Studies; A.A. Native American Studies.
Dine College
Languages Taught at This TCU:
Dine (Navajo)
Program Type:
B.A. Navajo language
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Ojibwe
Program Type:
Anishinabe Language Certificate, A.A. American Indian Studies
Fort Peck Community College
Languages Taught at This TCU:
Dakota
Nakoda (Assiniboine)
Program Type:
A.A. Native American Studies
Ilisagvik College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Inupiaq
Program Type:
Certificate Inupiaq Language; A.A. Inupiaq Studies
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Ojibwe
Program Type:
Ojibwe language certificate, A.A. Native American Studies Language specialty
Leech Lake Tribal College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Ojibwe
Program Type:
A.A. Indigenous Leadership, A.A. Liberal Education
Little Big Horn College
Little Priest Tribal College
Navajo Technical University
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Dine (Navajo)
Program Type:
M.A., B.A. Dine Culture, Language and Leadership, Navajo Court Transcription/Interpretation certificate
Nebraska Indian Community College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Dakota
Umoho (Omaha)
Program Type:
A.A. Native American Studies
Northwest Indian College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Lummi
Lushootseed
Whulshootseed
Nez Perce
Program Type:
B.A. Native Studies Leadership
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Nueta (Mandan)
Hidatsa
Sahnish (Arikara)
Program Type:
A.A., B.A. Native American Studies
Oglala Lakota College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Lakota
Program Type:
Lakota Language Certificate; A.A. Lakota Studies, B.A. Lakota Studies, B.S. in K-12 Lakota Studies Education
Red Lake Nation College
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Ojibwe
Program Type:
A.A. Native American Studies, concentration in language;
Salish Kootenai College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Salish
Kootenai
Program Type:
A.S. Native Language Teacher Education
San Carlos Apache College
Sinte Gleska University
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Lakota
Program Type:
currently no language degree programs offered
Sisseton Wahpeton College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Dakota
Program Type:
A.A. Dakota Studies, Dakota Language Teaching Certificate
Sitting Bull College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Lakota
Dakota
Program Type:
Lakota/Dakota Language Certificate I, Lakota/Dakota Language Certificate II, A.S. Lakota/Dakota language, B.A. Native American Studies
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Dine (Navajo)
Program Type:
Navajo I and II courses
Stone Child College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Cree
Chippewa
Program Type:
Cree Language Certificate
Tohono O’odham Community College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
O’odham (Papago-Pima)
Program Type:
A.A. Tohono O’odham Studies;
Turtle Mountain Community College
Languages Taught at this TCU:
Ojibwe
Michif
Program Type:
A.A. Anishinaabe Language; B.A. Ojibwe Language and Culture
White Earth Tribal and Community College
33
33 TCUs currently offer
Native language courses.
Native language courses.
17
17 TCUs have degrees or certificate
programs in Native languages.
programs in Native languages.
7
TCUs currently teach more
than one Native language.
than one Native language.
“Our language is our sovereignty. Our language is who we are as a people.”
Professor Kathleen Kicheyan
San Carlos Apache College
Community Highlights
Cathy Wishes to Inspire Native Youth to Attend College
Henry celebrates earning high marks with a supportive circle of friends
Jared graduates from prestigious University while maintaining a successful career
