Revitalizing Ancient Languages of Southeast Alaska: The Efforts of Sealaska Heritage Institute
Revitalizing Ancient Languages of Southeast Alaska: The Efforts of Sealaska Heritage Institute
Sealaska Heritage Institute operates programs to revitalize the ancient languages of Southeast Alaska: Lingít (Tlingit), X̱aadKíl (Haida), and Sm’algyax (Tsimshian). The languages were almost lost during a time of severe cultural oppression, but in recent years, a number of young people have learned their ancient tongue and are now teaching it to others with assistance from fluent Elders. SHI has also published a number of language books to document and help revitalize the languages. The languages contain a wealth of information about Southeast Alaska, including ancient geological phenomena such as the advancement and retreat of glaciers.
Tlingit Culture, Language, and Literacy
The Tlingit Culture, Language, and Literacy (TCLL) program is a place-based, culture-based “school within a school” where the Tlingit language and culture are celebrated, respected, and integrated into daily instruction. SHI works in partnership with Juneau School District to host classrooms in Harborview Elementary where Tlingit Elders work alongside the teaching teams and Tlingit language speakers. TCLL will expand its services for K-8th grade while implementing a dual language model whose goal is to cultivate Tlingit language fluency for children, staff, and families participating in the program. Learn more about this program on the TCLL website.
Our Ancestors’ Echoes
SHI designed the Our Ancestors' Echoes program to increase the number of Alaska Native students in Southeast Alaska who have access to educators teaching their heritage language. Building on the success of the Our Language Pathway project, this work also prioritizes supporting and retaining current language educators, increasing wider access to language courses, and supporting mental health and healing work in the community. Additionally, the program includes the establishment of an immersive language community for 6 scholars enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in Indigenous Studies in Language at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) and the publication of language resources in X̱aad Kíl, Sm'algyax, and Lingít. SHI funds scholarships for language students enrolled at the University of Alaska Southeast who are studying Xaad Kíl, Sm’algyax, and Lingít.
Language Scholars
SHI funds scholarships for Native language students seeking bachelor’s degrees to further perpetuate Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian languages in the establishment of learning nests. Through the three-year program, selected candidates are expected to: - Spend four hours weekly listening to audio in their heritage language; - Spend each year with an advanced language speaker translating and transcribing 15 minutes of archival audio; - Attend SHI’s healing Summer Language Program each year; - Obtain a bachelor's degree in Indigenous studies with an emphasis on Alaska Native Languages.
