Sealaska Heritage Institute Press Release

UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA STUDENT AWARDED 2024 JUDSON BROWN SCHOLARSHIP

Tsimshian student commended for her commitment to language revitalization

June 28, 2024

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has chosen a Tsimshian student from Ketchikan as the recipient of the 2024 Judson L. Brown Leadership Award.

Torah Zamora, who is a student at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, was selected for her outstanding leadership in promoting Tsimshian culture and language revitalization. Her passion has been evident throughout her apprenticeship in SHI’s Voices on the Land Program, where she worked under the mentorship of Shaakindustóow Ed Littlefield for the last two years.

Torah would always be thinking of new ways to incorporate traditional ways of knowing into our sessions with students, even if that meant changing the mold of the typical Western classroom, Littlefield wrote.

“The dedication Torah has shown in her teaching is exactly what is needed to energize our communities to continue to bring our culture with us into the future,” he wrote.

Zamora is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education and Indigenous language revitalization. Her commitment to teaching the language of her Tsimshian grandmother has become a lifelong goal. She believes that being a good leader is synonymous with being a good relative—continually learning, sharing skills and uplifting the community.

Post-graduation, Zamora plans on advancing her fluency in Shm’algyack, writing and recording music in the language, and continuing her role as a teaching artist with the Voices on the Land program at SHI. Zamora is also dedicated to developing educational resources and curriculum for Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian educators and learners.

About the Judson Brown Scholarship

The Judson L. Brown Leadership Award, established by Chris and Mary McNeil in 2006, honors the legacy of Chris’ uncle, Tlingit leader Judson Lawrence Brown. Brown was the first chair of the Sealaska Heritage Foundation—now known as Sealaska Heritage Institute—and a strong advocate for education and leadership development. The $5,000 award supports students who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to preserving Native culture and languages.

Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. SHI promotes cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services, events, and educational programs. The institute also conducts scientific and public policy research to promote Alaska Native arts, cultures, history, and education statewide.

CONTACT: CONTACT: Kathy Dye, SHI Communications and Publications Deputy Director, 907.321.4636, kathy.dye@sealaska.com.

Caption: Torah Zamora. Note: Media outlets are welcome to use this image for coverage of this story. For a high-resolution version, contact kathy.dye@sealaska.com