SHI lecture to explore heritage language connections
Community leader to speak on multlingualism, identiy and language revitalization
May 28, 2025
Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will sponsor a presentation tomorrow as part of its spring lecture series featuring prominent voices in Native knowledge, art, culture and language.
Shiggoap Alfie Price, a Tsimshian, Tlingit and Haida language advocate and cultural leader, will present his talk, “Building Bridges with Languages.”
The lecture will explore the importance of forging connections between heritage languages, dialects and accents, as well as the personal and cultural benefits of becoming multilingual.
Price was raised in a Tsimshian household and began his journey in language revitalization with Sm’algya̱x, the Tsimshian language. Since then, he has also studied Lingít (Tlingit) and X̱aad Kíl (Haida) and works to support learners at all stages. Price emphasizes the collective strength of language revitalization efforts and the importance of shared spaces for learning.
He is a co-founder of the Juneau Sm’algya̱x learners group and works in information technology for the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. He is also a member of the Yées Ku.oo and Xaadáas Dagwíi dance groups and serves as an assistant leader for Ldakát Naax Sati’ Yátx’i (All Nations Children Dancers).
The lecture is scheduled for noon Thursday, May 29, in Shuká Hít within the Walter Soboleff Building, 105 Heritage Way, in Juneau. The event will be livestreamed and posted on SHI’s YouTube channel.
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 a newly formed Education Committee.
CONTACT: Therese Pokorney, SHI Communications Officer, therese.pokorney@sealaska.com