UAA's Alaska Native Studies teaches Alaska Native cultural perspectives, languages, politics, and health to students. Illustration used with permission from Alaska Native Knowledge Network.
The Alaska Native Studies website describes their mission as providing “an in-depth perspective on contemporary Alaska Native societies, languages, cultures, history, politics, art, tribal governments, and our for-profit as well as our non-profit corporations.”
They offer seven language classes, as well as classes that are Alaska Native themed classes across the curriculum, including anthropology and art, business, dietetics and nutrition, justice, music, nursing, psychology and social work.
As a department at UAA, it offers a minor, an associate of arts degree, and two occupational endorsement certificates in the Ahtna and Dena’ina languages. In addition, Kenai Peninsula College offers a minor in Alaska Native Studies, and students can take classes for an associate’s degree or get an occupational endorsement certificate in both the Dena’Ina and Ahtna languages, in conjunction with classes from UAA.
Ahtna is only offered through Kenai, but the classes are offered online and in person, so it is possible to get an occupational endorsement certificate online. Kodiak College offers an occupational endorsement certificate in the Alutiiq language. UAA also offers undergraduate certificates in Ahtna and Dena’Ina languages.
TNL spoke to Maria Williams of the Alaska Native Studies program and she shared that Alaska is “in the middle of a language renaissance.” She explained how Sondra Shaginoff Stuart, the Alaska Native Studies Program Chair, created the occupational endorsement certificate because there was a need in South Central Alaska, especially in Anchorage. Williams said that there are K-12 schools that need language teachers and there are a lot of teachers and students of education taking the Alaska Native Languages classes.
According to an article in Alaska Business Magazine, “half of the first-language speakers of Kodiak Alutiiq [have] passed away.”
There is an attempt all over Alaska to bring back the Alaska Native languages, with Roy Mitchell of Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council quoted in Alaska Business Monthly as saying that “many non-Native people, including policy makers and teachers, may operate in ignorance of Alaska Native language loss or that in the past Alaska Native students were forbidden to speak their languages. The history of language suppression and loss is still felt with ongoing intergenerational trauma.”
After decades of forced assimilation, it is crucial for the healing of the population to retain and normalize Alaska Native languages. According to the Kodiak College website, the region has a need for paraprofessionals with Alutiiq language proficiency, and the occupational endorsement certificate at Kodiak College is helping to fill this need.
Language proficiency does not mean that holders of the occupational endorsement certificates will achieve full fluency by the end of the program, but that they will have built a foundation for future study, allowing students to continue to learn and communicate in their chosen language. There are a minimum of 15 credits needed for the certificates. For the Dena'ina and Ahtna languages, students will come out “with a low intermediate language proficiency,” with the Alutiic learners getting an intermediate proficiency.
UAA also has undergraduate certificates in both Ahtna and Dena’ina language instruction. These require close to 30 credits and prepare students with “knowledge, resources, and skills appropriate for a variety of entry-level jobs” where they can start teaching at a beginner level. These classes are often offered after 5 p.m., and Williams says that this is because so many students are working during the day.
With seven languages offered by the university, how does one choose? Williams said, “Students choose the language based on personal interest and preference.” She said that for those who take languages, “some students are from the regions with different levels of exposure and understanding, and some are not Alaska Native but maybe grew up in the area and just want to have a better understanding of the local language and culture.”
Williams shared a need for people to be informed in business and politics. She said there were people from “all over the world” and locally, applying the minor to different degrees.
There are two ways of doing Alaska Native studies through UAA’s College of Business and Public Policy, and students may opt for either an occupational endorsement certificate or the minor in Alaska Native Business Management. According to the college’s website: “Alaska Native Corporations are an essential part of the Alaska economy. Learning the history, culture and management of these dynamic organizations is essential to anyone doing business in Alaska. This program is for both Alaska Native and non-Native students alike who plan to live and work in Alaska.”
Williams said that the program is still young, but — with minors, an associate’s degree, certificates and students working in the field — it is already fulfilling a mission in teaching students about Alaska Native societies, languages, cultures, history, politics, art, and the corporations that shape Alaska.
For students, staff and faculty that are interested, the Alaska Native Studies program will be hosting two student showcases at the end of the semester. The first one will be on Thursday April 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in SSB 119, and on Friday April 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in SSB 119. Support your fellow Seawolves in the Alaska Native Studies program and see what they are doing!
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