Native Languages Center

LANGUAGE PROGRAMS ›

Tohono O’odham Community College

Sells, AZ
tocc.edu ➚

Language

O’odham

Academic Programs

AA in Tohono O’odham Studies

About TOCC

As a community college closely associated with the Tohono O’odham Nation, TOCC encourages the growth of students’ cultural knowledge and takes steps to transmit learning in a way that respects the Tohono O’odham Himdag. The Tohono O’odham Himdag consists of the culture, way of life, and values that are uniquely held and displayed by the Tohono O’odham. Himdag incorporates everything in life that makes us unique as individuals and as a people. In addition to program requirements, TOCC has a Tohono O’odham Himdag requirement for graduation from any program of study. All students and staff are required to take Tohono O’odham Culture & History and Tohono O’odham I classes.

O’odham Ñi’okĭ Ki:

TOCC houses the O’odham Ñi’okĭ Ki: (O’odham Language Center) and is a space for all O’odham, including those from other O’odham speaking nations. One of the goals of the language center is to create opportunities where language is passed from one generation to the next. This work is done in several ways that include developing teaching and learning opportunities through immersion programs and master-apprentice models for adult learners. Language documentation and preservation projects are also a part of the work done at O’odham Ñi’okĭ Ki:

The language center is community focused and works with tribal programs and others to promote teaching and learning and assists in training teachers for early childhood education programs.

Language

O'odham (sometimes called Papago-Pima) is an Uto-Aztecan language spoken by the Tohono Oʼodham (Papago) and Akimel Oʼodham (Pima) peoples of Southern Arizona and Northern Sonora. It is the 10th most spoken Indigenous language in the United States, and the 3rd most spoken in Arizona.

Teaching Requirements in Arizona

In Arizona teachers can obtain the Native American Language PreK-12 Certificate. ➚ A letter verifying proficiency in the Native language from appropriate tribal entity is required. Certification is verified through the Tohono O’odham Nation and the Tohono O’odham Nation Education Department. ➚

Explore More Language Programs

The map below shows the locations of the 37 TCUs across the country. To learn more about each TCU and the language programs offered within those institutions, hover over each pin on the map.



AIHEC Member Institutions



Developing AIHEC Member Institutions