Wangkuta Qanriarait Nanvarparmiut Yugestun

Igiugig Village Council received two Administration for Na-tive Americans (ANA) grants – one under Social and Economic Development Strategies which is the tugboat project, and another under Language Preservation and Maintenance. It is a grant requirement to attend the annual grantee meeting. This year the meeting was held in Marksville, Louisiana from June 21-23. ANA is housed within the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, so they also recommended bringing youth aged 13-24 along for the Generation Indigenous initiative. So, myself, Terek, Dolly, Fewnia, the twins, Halay, Jiles, and Chaskè all swarmed to LA.

While there, we heard inspiring “Native Empowerment Dialogues”, attended workshops, got helpful tips and ideas from other grantee projects, and were able to meet with our Program Officer. “The Light Switch in your DNA: How Trauma Can Affect Your DNA” by Monica Tsethlikai talked about the importance of early life nurturing, which sets the stage for how our kids manage stress.

Chance Rush, a comedian, said youth aged 13-24 are not the “future” they are the number one influence in the world right now. “We have to work with them, they need to be at the table making important decisions for Indian Country.” His advice to the youth, and I have to agree, is to “Put Creator first,” your spirituality will carry you through “the highest peaks and the darkest valleys.”

The favored workshop was facilitated by a youth mentor Junior Gisa, and was about using storytelling to overcome adversities by helping to build the courage and skills to communi-cate with others.

A highlight for me was learning about other language programs and especially their material development. Vanessa GoodThunder, aged 18, is dedicating her life to her Dakota language, and her main message to the audience was, “Whatever your passion is, put your language in it.”

We returned from Louisiana with reinvigoration and new bright ideas for our language program, which is about to complete its first year already. We have been doing Master/Apprentice group sessions three times a week. The first week the theme was salmon canning, taught by elder Annie Wilson. The next week was salmonberry picking with Alice Zackar and Dallia Andrew. Now that the salmon are running, we will do a salmon splitting session. Here is some of what we covered.

Sayaagnek mikluki kepurluku (cut the salmon into small pieces).
Elliluku sayaagnek iluani stakaanam (put the salmon inside the jar).
Stakaanam muirluki sayaagnek (fill the jar up with salmon).
Perrirluku avatii stakaanam (wipe around the jar).
Patuuluku stakaanam (put the lid on the jar).
Paankarluki (can it).
Cikiqataramken (I am going to give it to you).