Cultural Programming

Bristol Bay Indigenous Language Work

Language is the expression of our culture and our land. We cannot have one without the others. We cannot describe our culture and our land if we do not have language.

(Queensland Indigenous Languages Advisory Committee, 2006 )

Bristol Bay

Indigenous Language

Strategic Plan

The Bristol Bay Indigenous Language Strategic Plan (BBILSP) aims to create a strategic, region-wide plan for revitalizing the Alutiiq, Dena’ina, and Yup’ik languages. The plan will outline long-term goals, guide program development, define project priorities, and establish methods for evaluating progress.


BBF in partnership with Raven’s Group are gathering input from parents, Elders, Tribes, community members, learners, and language teachers, LPSD, BBBSD, and school boards using various feedback methods. This information will be analyzed to shape the strategic plan.

We invite you to take a short survey to help guide language planning in the region. The survey asks about your experiences and preferences in learning or speaking your Alaska Native language. It takes 15-20 minutes. Your answers will be confidential. Your input is valuable, even if you’re not directly involved in language revitalization or education.

As a quyana, participants will be entered into a prize drawing for BBNC jackets and/or custom kuspaqs.

BBF Language Summit

The Bristol Bay Foundation, in partnership with other regional entities, hosts a Bristol Bay Indigenous Language Summit bi-annually. The Language Summit brings together Dena’ina, Yupiaq/Yup’ik, and Alutiiq/Sugpiaq Elders, speakers, teachers, and learners in Anchorage to connect, discuss, and support existing region-wide efforts in language revitalization. Participants discuss and reflect on welcoming and supportive learning environments (language agreements), language and cultural materials, archiving, language learning practices, observe demonstrations of proven language teaching methods, and learn about approaches to developing language teachers. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Stay tuned!

 The next Summit will be held in spring of 2026.

  • Who: Bristol Bay Indigenous Language learners, teachers, and program administrators that are over the age of 18. Those under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by a legal guardian.

  • Where: To Be Determined

To facilitate meaningful interactions and intimate group discussions, registration is limited. Some Elders and Youth may be eligible for scholarships for travel, food, and accommodations.

Kitaki!

Language Now: A Call to Reawaken, Connect, and Celebrate.

Sponsor the Summit.

With the invaluable guidance of our Elders, the enthusiasm of our students, and all the necessary resources within reach, backing the Bristol Bay Indigenous Language Summit stands as a crucial investment in safeguarding our cultural heritage. Your contribution will provide a platform, resources, and momentum required to ensure the enduring vitality of our languages for our future generations to come.

Please check out our Q-Give site which makes it quick and easy to donate!