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 )
2026 Bristol Bay Indigenous 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.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided by The Galley.
The Summit will be held April 24th & 25th, 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: Naknek, Alaska - BBBSD Auditorium
When: Doors open at 8:30am and programming runs until 5pm daily
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.
Registration is now open!
The 2026 Bristol Bay Indigenous Language Summit Program
Click below to view the official Language Summit Program - schedule, breakout session details, and more!
Live stream 2026 Language Summit keynote presentations and dance performances
Can’t make the Summit in person this year? That’s okay! We will be live streaming our keynote presentations and dance performances on April 24th and 25th on the BBBSD YouTube channel!
Friday, April 24th:
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Christopher Liu (Egalaaq) and Lonny Strunk (Alaskuk) are Yup’ik computer scientists from the Lower Kuskokwim region. Egalaaq was born and raised in Mamterilleq (Bethel), his mother is from Nunapicuaq and father is from Taiwan. Alaskuk grew up in Kuinerraq (Quinhagak), his mother is from Kuinerraq and father is from Washington and Oregon.
From building online language tools as a hobby to building a business, Christopher and Lonny will share their journey behind Yuarcuun Technologies. Their keynote will highlight the meaningful Yup’ik language and historical insights they’ve learned along their journey.
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Join to watch and follow along!
Saturday, April 25th:
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Hau’olihiwahiwa Moniz is a Native Hawaiian social researcher and community educator from the ‘ili of Keahupua’anui in Kailua, Ko’olaupoko, O’ahu. She holds a Master of Arts in Hawaiian Studies and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Her scholarly work introduced the concept of Native Hawaiian Lateral Violence into academic discourse, examining how identity, belonging, and cultural self-efficacy are shaped in Hawaiian language and cultural revitalization spaces.
“Am I Native Enough?” Lateral Violence in Indigenous Language Learning examines how lateral violence influences Indigenous peoples’ relationships with community, identity, and the reclamation of their mother tongues. Grounded in research within the Native Hawaiian community, it analyzes how internalized colonial definitions of being “Native enough” undermine legitimacy and belonging in language learning spaces, creating emotional and social barriers for Indigenous language learners today.
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Join to watch and follow along!
Awakening together
Allrilurmi Esgartukut - Qit’ach’idaznit - Ellangukut Quyumta
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 gathered input from parents, Elders, Tribes, community members, learners, and language teachers, LPSD, BBBSD, and school boards using various feedback methods. This information is being analyzed to shape the strategic plan.
Chin’an, Quyanaa, Quyana Cakneq to all who participated in listening sessions or completed the survey!
Raven’s Group is currently evaluating data and working on a draft plan. Check back soon to learn about the next opportunity to provide feedback on the plan. For more info, please see the Bristol Bay Leadership Forum schedule.