Wangkuta Qanriarait Nanvarparmiut Yugestun

Year in Review

This year we launched the Yup’ik Language Program through funding from ANA, which marks the start of a long, exciting journey to reclaim Yup’ik and teach it to the youngest generation. We estimate that 25 speakers of the Lake Iliamna dialect are living today (3 live in Igiugig). Our program is the only daily effort we know of that is designed to maintain this dialect into the future. Igiugig's small, tight-knit community makes it an ideal place for language revitalization. Signs of the language movement in Igiugig from the first year:

• 5 Language Apprentices are now able to conduct classes for children fully in the Yup'ik language, including games, crafts, songs, stories, weather, calendar, snacks, and other daily activities. The Apprentices continue to advance their proficiency through Master Apprentice sessions with Elders.
• 32 children ages 0-18 participated in language classes this year. They each have a Yup’ik name and take pride in using it. A weekend immersion program for head start is being developed, where none previously existed. 4 new learners were born this year!
• Igiugig School teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Gooden, support the language and like to incorporate it throughout the school day. Yup’ik is also used to serve school lunches.
• 6 learners successfully completed a Yup'ik language distance course through the University of Alaska in which they worked with local elders in a Master-Apprentice learning model.
• The community is embracing the language and uses it in postings on facebook and social media. Greetings such as “Waqaa” and “Cama’i” are becoming commonplace among all ages in the village. Work is currently underway to rename all of the public buildings with Yup'ik names. This newsletter was renamed in Yup’ik.
• The village learned Yup’ik songs and dances and performed them in New Zealand as well as at Lake and Peninsula School District meeting and Kokhanok Winter Carnival.
• 4 language trainings have been conducted by outside experts and consultants. Staff also participated in the Alaska Language Summit in Juneau, Language Assessments Training in Anchorage, and the ANA Grantee Meeting in Louisiana.
• Learners and staff had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Maori language experts in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and were hosted by Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro, an immersion school.
• 12 Jobs were created: 1 full time director, and 11 part time jobs (4 elder speakers, 5 apprentices, 1 coordinator, and 1 language mentor).

A special QUYANA to the elder speakers who make the project possible, Annie Wilson, Alice Zackar, and Dallia Andrew. We are also very thankful for the time we had to learn from Mike Andrew before his passing this year. Quyana to Evelyn Yanez who spent several months helping us as a Language Mentor. We look forward to more progress in the coming year! ___________________________________________

Salmon Splitting Lesson ~ Seggluku Sayagmek

In early July we were able to hold a Master/Apprentice session on the shores of the Kvichak River, with seasoned fish-filleter Dallia Andrew. We captured her on video teaching how to "split a salmon". Later, we watched the video with elder Annie Wilson and broke it down into simplified steps to help assist with Yup'ik language retention. We really have the most ideal classroom in the world - please make the most of it, especially since our elders are so ready and willing and the best teachers in the world!!!