2022-2023 grant period closed. Please inquire below for information on the next funding period.
I just want to briefly give a very quick statement about the state of our languages in Southeast Alaska, and the state is one of crisis.
Supporting and prioritizing advanced second-language learners is critical,” said Richard (Chalyee Éesh) Peterson, president of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. “We have limited time. We must act now to create new, young, adult fluent speakers while the birth-speaking Elders are still with us.
The fund is expected to generate $500,000 in grants annually to invigorate indigenous languages over the next decade.
Projects that have been funded so far include support for part-time, paid language mentors to assist students in the process of learning their language and create learning materials to assist them, and developing curriculum for the community of Hydaburg’s Xaadas Kíl Kuyaas Foundation in its work to preserve the Xaad Kíl language.
Sealaska is welcoming applications to support language preservation efforts. To learn more or apply, please email Tasha Heumann at tasha.heumann@sealaska.com.