Migizi lands at LCO Ojibwe College

LCOOC is proud to announce that LCO’s very own Dr. Michael Migizi Sullivan Sr. has started as full-time faculty this month. Sullivan joins the college as Native American Studies Faculty Director. Prior to joining LCOOC, he worked for the Waadookodaading Ojibwe immersion school for 6 years as the school’s linguist where he contributed to curriculum development, immersion teacher training, and middle school grade expansion. Before his position at Waadookodaading he served as a professor at the College of St. Scholastica where he was Chair of American Indian Studies.

Migizi was born and raised here at LCO and is a 2002 graduate of LCOOC. He often tells people that he is the first LCOOC graduate to go on and earn a doctorate. He earned his undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and his master’s and PhD in Linguistics from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He previously worked as the Community Language Curator for the Ojibwe People’s Dictionary (online) and has worked with and recorded dozens of Ojibwe-speaking elders across the vast Anishinaabe territory.

Migizi brings to the college an important skillset and is excited about classes starting. When asked about joining the college he said, “I am really happy to be here and can’t wait to get rolling with the students. We’re looking for the next generation of language professionals, language enthusiasts and advocates and I hope that we can start fostering that next generation as soon as possible.” Sullivan has several research projects and forthcoming publications he is working on and is currently looking for an intern to serve as his research assistant. (www.lco.edu/wbl). He assists a number of tribes, schools, and organizations with language revitalization work and is currently the managing linguistic editor for Rosetta Stone Ojibwe, a new app-based program being launched by the Mille Lacs Band early 2022.

I asked Migizi what made him want to come over to the college he said, “I want to provide access to our language for our people. A lot of people want to learn but don’t have anyone to learn from. I want to reach as many of our relatives as I can and help them get on the path to a healthy Anishinaabe lifestyle grounded in our spiritual worldview best exemplified in and by our language.” As of writing this article, there were still a few spots available in his introductory language class.

When not working, Migizi enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, traveling to powwows and ceremonies, hunting and fishing, as well as cheering on the Green Bay Packers. migizi@lco.edu