Cultural Heritage & Education The Cultural Heritage & Education department oversees the coordination of Tlingit & Haida’s cultural and educational activities in collaboration with other tribes and entities. The department reflects the principle that our communities, lands and tribal citizens thrive when our culture and education is our foundation. Cultural Heritage & Education is housed in the Vocational Training & Resource Center and oversees the following programs: Higher Education Johnson O’Malley (JOM)
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2020 Highlights
Aan Shaawátk’i Sarah Dybdahl Director
“Strengthening the Tribe’s nationhood through preserving our cultural heritage."
Hired Cultural Program Coordinator in early 2020 to advance the Tribe’s cultural programming and educational opportunities. Applied and awarded an Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS) Basic Library Service grant in the amount of $10,000 to expand resources and services available through the Tribe’s library. Applied and awarded an IMLS Enhancement grant in the amount of $128,859 to develop and implement the Southeast Indigenous Languages Digital Archive. Awarded $175,000 from Sealaska Corporation to support six intermediate/advanced language learners. Hosted I Toowú Klatseen (Boys Run) in collaboration with community partners. The program served 39 (2nd through 5th grade) youth in the Juneau School District. Provided online Língit language course in collaboration with Outer Coast College. Hosted a First Alaskans Institute intern (10 weeks) to assist Haa Yoo X’atángi Kúdi in developing language resources for families and students. Initiated project to produce 36 early education culturally relevant videos that are culturally relevant through support from the 47 Child Care department to provide resources to families, child care providers, and early education programs. Partnered with Washington State University to develop and create a Mukurtu Hub to support Indigenous language learning communities in Alaska. Provided 300 Chromebooks to Prince of Wales Island School District students through Achieving Success by Respectfully Targeting Individual Developmental Ecology (ASTRIDE) funding.
Haa Yoo X’atángi Kúdi Haa Yoo X̱ʼatángi Kúdi is a community-based language learning project that focuses on improving language transmission between generations and within families. The program opened its doors to tribally-enrolled children ages three to five in 2019, immersing students in the Lingít language and ensuring families are provided the resources needed to be on the language journey with their children. Provided 224.5 hours of in-person Lingít language immersion instruction to 15 tribal children. Hosted a five-week Lingít language literacy class for Haa Yoo X’atángi Kúdi parents. Hosted 24 in-person family events. 64
