Performing Department
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Non Technical Summary
The purpose of the Chukchi Campus language learning workshop aims to address the endangerment of Alaska Native languages, particularly Inupiaq, as an inseparable part of culture. The urgency is underscored by the growing scarcity of fluent speakers, including Elders, coupled with a substantial gap between the Native student population and the non-Native teaching workforce.The proposed project will work with partnership organizations and other UAF units that have a passion for preserving and growing indigenous language knowledge. Local organization partners will provide expertise in organizing and facilitating the language camp. The UAF Geophysical Institute Cultural Connections to Alaska Science (CCAS) will collaborate to assist in building an online Iñupiaq pronunciation guide. CCAS representatives will participate in a science vocabulary-building session with language experts and educators. Terms identified during the session will be transcribed and narrated for inclusion in the free online pronunciation guide for science educators in the region, K-12 students, and others. This effort also aligns with the Northwest Arctic Borough School District's ongoing effort to build more place-based content into their science curriculum.From the combined efforts of Chukchi Campus, CCAS, and local partner organizations, bilingual teachers and others will receive professional training to receive credits that can be used towards their Alaska Native Certificate and/or a campus credential.One of the reasons students are not completing degrees is because of the program's cost. This grant would alleviate a barrier to achieving a certificate program by having the cost of the tuition for the program. Also, if we were to create approved week-long intensives for some certificate programs, it would allow students to complete the degree within the three-year grant period.Chukchi Campus service area would benefit immensely from fostering a vibrant community of Inupiaq language speakers and writers, and a language camp represents a crucial step towards realizing this vision. With most of the population identifying as Inupiaq, the profound impact of language revitalization extends beyond linguistic fluency. These language learners will have higher self-esteem and confidence, firmly grounding them in their cultural identity. Once learned, they will become torchbearers for future generations, maintaining culture and tradition within their region. Creating a cohesive Inupiaq-speaking community opens doors to many opportunities, including economic growth through cultural tourism and job creation in language-related fields, but also serves as a vital means of maintaining the identity and resilience of the community. Creating synergy in the Inupiaq language can create beautiful partnerships and collaborations. Offering these language camps is one way to make a significant pathway for our current and future bilingual teachers to show future generations that post-secondary education is achievable while cultivating their cultural and linguistic heritage.
Animal Health Component
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Research Effort Categories
Basic
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Applied
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Developmental
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Goals / Objectives
The majority of this region has strong ties to Inupiat culture. The initiative recognizes the significant role of local entities, including the NWABSD, in supporting bilingual teachers' learning journeys, as exemplified by the collaborative efforts with Hannah Loon. The proposed week-long intensive language learning workshop is designed to cater to varying proficiency levels--beginning, intermediate, and advanced--with the overarching goal of facilitating bilingual teacher certification and campus credentials. The program would support participants by offering focused sessions on Inupiaq language learning and cultural teachings from community Elders.Preserving the Inupiaq language is a task of the Chukchi Campus, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks is working to help keep it alive. Currently, there is no systematic way to learn Inupiaq; it's not a linear or fluid way for people to learn the language. If someone wants to learn a language like Spanish, there are tons of resources to learn the language. The resources of workbooks, audio files, and Elders of the Inupiaq language are limited, which doesn't get someone to be an advanced speaker. Lastly, with the pandemic, access to Elders was limited because compromising their health is not an option.The successes of people completing the program are infinite. For years, students have heard that they should get post-secondary education. By Chukchi Campus hosting these courses, students can complete their degrees efficiently. It reduces the factors of homesickness during their time at school. Students who complete this program are going to have a domino effect. Future students can use them as an example and be just as proud as they are to start a program. Representation matters, and if the Chukchi Campus says learning the Inupiaq language is essential, it shows that we value the region's language.
Project Methods
Chukchi Campus hosting the language camps allows for another pathway to learn the language. One day, the Inupiaq language camp will be included in a systematic way of learning the language. The language camps can give best practices for learning the languages and their tips and tricks for learning the Inupiaq language. Once the Academic Advisor and Hannah Loon look at where students are at, they can see the strengths and weaknesses of the Inupiaq Language. The Academic Advisor creates a path for the students to achieve their academic goals.The Chukchi Campus Director provides leadership and guidance for the Uqapiaguguuru?a: I Love to Speak Iñupiaq project with guidance from and not limited to Hannah Loon, Aqqaluk Trust and UAF Geophysical Institute Central Connections to Alaska Science. Lastly, the Elders from the community will also guide the Chukchi Campus Director. Any meetings with these agencies will have agendas and minutes for documentation purposes. They will be kept in a Google Drive, and the grant evaluator will have access to this folder. If they have any feedback that is necessary for the project, the director and grant evaluator can implement it in years two and three. Chukchi Campus will see if any improvements are needed within the language program after their first year of the language camp or if there are any findings of creating a systematic way for students to learn the Inuit language.