New book studies X̱aad Kíl revitalization efforts

(Get the Book)

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has published a book on language revitalization efforts in Hydaburg, Alaska, where the X̱ántsii Náay Haida Immersion Preschool opened in the fall of 2018.

“‘Dámaan St’áang Tl’ang Kínggang’: Connecting our Past, Present, and Future to Revitalize X̱aad Kíl in Hydaburg, Alaska” by Ka’iljuus Lisa Lang dissects the Haida language’s painful history and hopeful future.

By 1925, the U.S. government had removed over 60,000 Native American children from their homes and placed them in boarding schools, where they were severely punished for speaking their Native languages. This forced stripping of cultural heritage resulted in several languages dying out or becoming dangerously close to extinction, including X̱aad Kíl (Northern Alaskan Haida).

“Dámaan St’áang Tl’ang Kínggang” translates to “we are carefully watching our steps,” and is the first line of a famous Haida saying:

“The world is like a knife blade. When you are walking, watch your step. If you don’t watch your steps, you will fall off the edge of the earth.”

Lang, who is Haida and Tsimshian, writes that if the Hydaburg people don’t maintain a successful model of a language immersion program, their language will fall off the knife blade edge of the earth.

“We have no more choices – we have no more time. We cannot turn around. It is immerse or die. It is now or never. To lose our footing creates the illusion that we no longer care, that we no longer have our spirit and we no longer exist in this world. This painful and unacceptable reality is only one step away,” Lang writes.

The alternative to this reality is to become stronger together, “like fibers in a fine weaving.” In her study, which analyzes the X̱ántsii Náay Haida Immersion Preschool’s impact on the community’s attitudes and values by conducting voluntary interviews with Hydaburg youth, adults and Elders, Lang finds the interviewees unanimously view identity, culture and language as deeply intertwined.

“Indigenous languages must be prioritized and valued. Our highly endangered language isolate requires we act swiftly and courageously to save our language from going to sleep forever. The ultimate goal is to recognize we attain the strongest act of Tribal sovereignty by preserving our worldview, which is our language. The development of successful immersion practice and the revitalization of X̱aad Kíl is the development of true sovereignty,” Lang concludes.

“’Dámaan St’áang Tl’ang Kínggang’: Connecting our Past, Present, and Future to Revitalize X̱aad Kíl in Hydaburg, Alaska” was published through SHI’s Box of Knowledge series and is available for purchase online or at the Sealaska Heritage Institute store.

Sealaska Heritage’s Box of Knowledge series consists of essays, reports and books that the institute considers should be made available as a contribution to studies on Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures, history and languages. They may be based on work carried out by researchers working in collaboration with SHI, contributions prepared by external experts and work by staff. 

Sealaska Heritage Institute is a tribal organization founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. SHI also conducts scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee, a Southeast Regional Language Committee and an Education Committee.

CONTACT: Kathy Dye, Deputy Director of Publications and Communications, kathy.dye@sealaskaheritage.com

Caption: “Dámaan St’áang Tl’ang Kínggang’: Connecting our Past, Present, and Future to Revitalize X̱aad Kíl in Hydaburg, Alaska” is pictured. Note: News outlets are welcome to use this photo for coverage of this story. For a higher-res version, contact kathy.dye@sealaskaheritage.com.