SHI TO SPONSOR LECTURE SERIES ON SOUTHEAST ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGES
Free event to be offered in-person, and via livestream.
March 6, 2024
Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will sponsor a free lecture series on the challenges and successes faced by language students learning Lingít (Tlingit), X̱aad Kíl (Haida) and Shm’algyack (Tsimshian).
The series, “Honoring Our Ancestors and Future Generations” (Haa Shuká in Tlingit; Íitl’ Kuníisii in Haida and Na Łagigyetgm in Tsimshian), is part of an effort to unite language learners and culture leaders so they can focus on language instruction, programs and resources available to students.
“We have learned through our ongoing Language Scholars program for Lingít, X̱aad Kíl and Shm’algyack students that the journey has its challenges. We want to support our students and ease their way, as the work they are doing is so important to revitalizing our ancient languages,” said Dr. Rosita Ḵaaháni Worl, president of SHI.
Lecturers will share the challenges and successes of their work to demonstrate to other language learners what is possible and to assure them they are not alone.
All lectures will be held in-person at noon (Alaska time) at the Walter Soboleff Building in Juneau. SHI will also live stream the series on YouTube, where the recordings will be viewable immediately after. Viewers are encouraged to pose questions in-person and online.
The three-part series is scheduled as follows:
Thursday, March 14
Linda Schrack (Skíl Jáadei): Honoring Our Speakers: Past, Present, and Future\
Skíl Jáadei Linda Schrack is a Haida language teacher and an assistant professor of Alaska Native languages at UAS. She has been teaching the Haida language at the university since 2014 and holds a Master of Arts in Indigenous languages and linguistics from Simon Fraser University. Skíl Jáadei worked for the Ketchikan Indian Community Johnson O’Malley program beginning in 2006. In 2008, she initiated the program’s shift from a culture and arts focus to Tlingit, Tsimshian and Haida language mentor-apprentice programming. While Haida is Skíl Jáadei’s focus, she continually advocates for Tsimshian and Tlingit languages and culture.
Tuesday, March 19
Robert Yates (Dag Júus): Enduring Language Work has its Rewards
Dag Júus Robert Yates is a Haida language teacher and a former student of SHI’s language scholars’ program, through which he completed his Indigenous Teaching Certificate in Haida. Since then, he has been teaching community classes through Outer Coast and Tlingit and Haida Central Council. He has also taught Beginning Haida language classes through UAS.
Friday, March 22
Anna Clock (Neelaatughaa): Scholar to Teacher – Building your Mentor Team
Neelaatughaa Anna Clock is a Tlingit language teacher and a former student of SHI’s Language Scholars program. She teaches the Tlingit language at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She also hosts an online study group, transcribes, and translates recordings from Tlingit to English and creates instructional videos of her own. In 2022, Anna completed her Indigenous Teaching Certificate in Tlingit as an SHI Language Scholar.
Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events. SHI also conducts social 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, and a Southeast Regional Language Committee.
CONTACT: Kathy Dye, SHI Communications and Publications Deputy Director, 907.321.4636, kathy.dye@sealaska.com.