Patricia Wilkie of Turtle Mountain College

Patricia Wilkie is a member of the Turtle Mountain Pembina Chippewa Tribe. She is in her first year of Turtle Mountain College’s bachelor’s program for Ojibwe language and culture. Last year, Patricia completed the nine-month Ojibwe language program. Her current Ojibwe language and grammar instructor, Alixena Patnaude, began the Siipiising Singers ladies drum group. Patricia joined the group, and they sing in Ojibwemowin. Through this experience, Patricia developed the desire to learn the Ojibwe language.

Patricia’s academic accomplishments include earning an Associate of Arts degree in 1995 and a nine-month certificate in Ojibwe language in 2025. She is 67 years old and retired two years ago but considers herself a lifelong learner and Turtle Mountain College has always been her pathway to learning. As a member of the Siipiising Singers drum group she has had the opportunity to sing with the group at various schools, colleges, and tribal events. Her educational goal is to work towards the BA degree in her current program with the desire to teach the next generation of Ojibwe language learners. Patricia thinks Indigenous language revitalization is very important in that Indigenous languages, including the Ojibwe language, has been in danger of extinction. But she also believes that with the local high school and college programs offered today there is hope.