Courses

The UBC Faculty of Arts expects BA courses to be in person this fall. If you have questions, please reach out to the instructor and/or cis.program@ubc.ca.

FNEL is an undergraduate program, but offers small sections for graduate student enrolment. If you are a graduate student who is interested in taking any of our courses, please email cis.program@ubc.ca with the following information before June 23, 2023 to be registered in the appropriate section:

  • Reason you are interested in taking this course
  • How this course relates to your graduate research
  • Courses or work experience with Indigenous content
  • Your student number

Please note that this graduate course requires instructor approval and that by sending an email does not mean you are automatically registered. We will be in touch with you after your request has been reviewed – please email cis.program@ubc.ca with any questions.

Please click here to access the Approved Course List.

All undergraduates who have a background in an Indigenous language are welcome to apply by submitting an application. This pilot course is designed to support students seeking to deepen their understanding, experience of or competence in an Indigenous language. Together with the instructor, and with peers in class, students will work to outline their learning goals, identify language resources and relevant community organizations and develop a plan for sustained and deeper engagement with language in the course of the term.  Students will be notified whether they have been accepted by October. If accepted, students will be manually registered into the course. For further questions, please contact cis.advising@ubc.ca.

Please complete the form by Friday September 22, 2023 with all requested information and submit it to the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies at cis.advising@ubc.ca, along with the following additional documents:
• Copy of Transcript (can be unofficial)


Please click here to access the Approved Course List.

Click here for all relevant course information, including directed studies and graduate sections, or refer to the SSC under 2023W.

These FNEL courses are currently being offered during the 2023-2024 Winter session:

FNEL 180 (3) Introduction to Endangered Language Documentation and Revitalization
Foundational concepts in the critical study of cultural, historical, social, and political factors that impact language loss, retention, and revival. Introducing strategies and practical methodologies for collaborative, interdisciplinary, community-based documentation and revitalization projects for First Nations and Indigenous languages.
Prerequisite: none
Instructor: Galla, Candace
Term: 1

Development of skills in the perception and transcription of speech sounds in endangered languages, focusing on the diversity within BC Indigenous languages. Capacity-building techniques for digital recording, editing, analysis, and archiving; guided by community-based ethical protocols and conservation/revitalization goals
Prerequisite: none
Instructor: McGraw, Rachel
Term: 2

FNEL 381 (3) Biocultural Diversity: Language, Community, and Environment
Critical exploration of the links between linguistic, biological and cultural diversity; including connections with linguistic relativity, linguistic identity, language and place; and strategies for collective, interdisciplinary action to promote and support the protection of languages, cultures, and the environment.
Prerequisite: none
Instructor: Rosenblum, Daisy
Term: 1

FNEL 481 (3) Heritage Resources in Endangered First Nations Language Revitalization
Examines the complementary and intersecting roles of libraries, archives, and museums in collections acquisition, development, curation, preservation, and access traditions pertaining to First Nations languages, to explore how each can contribute to endangered language and cultural heritage sustainability.
Prerequisite: none
Instructor: Rosenblum, Daisy
Term: 2

FNEL 482 (3) Applied Research in Endangered Language Reclamation
Application of research skills and methodologies in the design and implementation of a research project relevant to endangered language conservation and/or revitalization. Project co-constructed in collaboration with a First Nations community, guided by community-based ethical protocols.
Prerequisite: By application - due Friday, Sept 22nd
Instructor: Turin, Mark
Term: 2

hay ce:p q̓ə tə xʷməθkʷəy̓əm xʷəlməxʷ.

Thank you to the Musqueam people for sharing their traditional language and oral traditions, and for welcoming UBC students onto their territory and into their community.

FNEL 191A Introduction to an Indigenous Language I

With growing public interest in learning more about the language and culture of the Musqueam peoples on whose traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory UBC is situated on, this 3-credit course will introduce learners to the rich inventory of sounds (22 consonants not in English) and the orthographic symbols that represent those sounds (as evidenced by the growing presence of Musqueam Central Coast Salish Language street signs, building names, site acknowledgements, and art installations on campus and throughout the lower Fraser Delta). Practice in pronunciation and development of literacy skills will be primarily through the medium of song, embracing a diversity of popular genres for all age groups: pre-school activity songs, playground skipping songs, fishing songs, honour songs, and classics paying homage to the great country traditions of John Denver.
Summer Term: 3 credits
Prerequisite: None
Time: Monday to Friday, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location: Musqueam Community Centre, 6735 Salish Drive
To view a map, click here.

FNEL 101 001 Introduction to a Salish Language I hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (Musqueam language)

An introduction to hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ /Musqueam language, the Coast Salish language traditionally spoken in and around Vancouver. Emphasis on accurate pronunciation and listening skills, conversational ability, basic literacy skills, an understanding of basic grammatical structures, and the study of oral traditions in their cultural context. No prior knowledge of the language is assumed.

Term 1: 3 credits
Prerequisite: None
Time: Tuesday & Thursday, 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Location: Musqueam Community Centre, 6735 Salish Drive
To view a map, click here.

FNEL 102 001 Introduction to a Salish Language II: hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (Musqueam language)

Continued focus on the diverse range of language learning skills that advance competency in conversational fluency, pronunciation, comprehension, vocabulary, oral traditions, literacy, grammatical understanding, and the cultural contextualization of language use.

Term 2: 3 credits
Prerequisite: FNEL 101
Time: Tuesday & Thursday, 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Location: Musqueam Community Centre, 6735 Salish Drive
To view a map, click here.

FNEL 201 001 Intermediate Salish Language I: hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (Musqueam language)

An intermediate level study of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, the traditional language of the Musqueam people. Emphasis on increasing fluency in conversational ability, enhancing pronunciation and comprehension skills, expanding vocabulary, extending literacy and grammatical understanding, and further study of oral traditions in their cultural context.

Term 1: 3 credits
Prerequisite: FNEL 102
Time: Monday & Wednesday, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Location: Musqueam Community Centre, 6735 Salish Drive
To view a map, click here.

FNEL 202 001 Intermediate Salish Language II: hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (Musqueam language)

Continued intermediate level study of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, the traditional language of the Musqueam people.

Term 2: 3 credits
Prerequisite: FNEL 201
Time: Monday & Wednesday, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Location: Musqueam Community Centre, 6735 Salish Drive
To view a map, click here.

FNEL 191A Introduction to an Indigenous Language I

With growing public interest in learning more about the language and culture of the Musqueam peoples on whose traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory UBC is situated on, this 3-credit course will introduce learners to the rich inventory of sounds (22 consonants not in English) and the orthographic symbols that represent those sounds (as evidenced by the growing presence of Musqueam Central Coast Salish Language street signs, building names, site acknowledgements, and art installations on campus and throughout the lower Fraser Delta). Practice in pronunciation and development of literacy skills will be primarily through the medium of song, embracing a diversity of popular genres for all age groups: pre-school activity songs, playground skipping songs, fishing songs, honour songs, and classics paying homage to the great country traditions of John Denver.
Prerequisite: None
Instructor: Point, Grace
July 22 to August 9, 2024
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm