As Native Peoples we are born with original instructions on how to caretake our land embedded in language, stories, and songs. Enei Begaye, 2020 Just Transition Summit
EDUCATION EDUCATION SYSTEMS CENTERED IN INDIGENOUS VALUES AND GENERATIONAL KNOWLEDGE ARE CRUCIAL FOR A JUST TRANSITION.
@JUSTTRANSITION_AK
Historically, formal education in Alaska has been used as a weapon against Indigenous peoples. In a Just Transition, our schools will revitalize Indigenous languages, uplift Indigenous culture, employ community members as teachers, and empower students. According to the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council, “Language nests (for young children) and language immersion schools are the most powerful institutional means of teaching a language.”
LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOOLS AND NESTS Nome: A K-1 Inupiaq immersion program. Fairbanks: Tanan Ch’at’oh, the Gwich'in Language Nest. Anchorage: Cook Inlet Native Head Start's Start's Yup'ik Immersion preschool, and the College Gate Elementary Central Yup’ik immersion program. Mekoryuk: Nuniwarmiut School, a K-4 Cup’ig partial immersion program. Bethel: The Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Yup’ik Immersion School. Juneau: The Tlingit Culture Language & Literacy program at Harborview Elementary School. Chickaloon: Ya Ne Dah Ah school.
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