Research summary
Given that most Indigenous People in Canada now live in urban areas, language and cultural loss are pressing concerns. As Canada Research Chair in Language Revitalization and Decolonizing Education, Dr. Lindsay Morcom is working to strengthen Indigenous languages, particularly Anishinaabemowin, in both on-reserve and urban communities.
She and her research team are developing language learning programs, immersion resources, and community-based education initiatives, exploring the role of emotion, identity and community in how people learn languages. To decolonize education, they are also working with Indigenous youth to understand their educational goals and what supports they need to succeed. This includes using virtual reality technology to engage youth in collaborative artmaking about education as well as research on the educational needs of youth in foster care. By integrating language revitalization with decolonial education strategies, Morcom aims to ensure that Indigenous languages and knowledges remain visible in urban spaces.