Delegation, Elders to bring Alutiiq culture to New Zealand (fwd)

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Delegation, Elders to bring Alutiiq culture to New Zealand

Article published on Thursday, June 23rd, 2005
By LAUREN VALONE
Mirror Writer
http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=1631

In an effort to foster Native education programs and share knowledge on
indigenous language and cultures, a delegation of Alutiiq leaders and
educators have been invited to the 2005 World Indigenous Peoples’
Conference on Education (WIPCE).

The conference will be held in Hamilton, New Zealand on Nov. 27 through
Dec. 1. It will be sponsored by Te Wananga o Aotearoa, a Maori
organization which promotes indigenous educational programs and
opportunities.

“We hope to get more ideas on how to integrate language and culturally
responsive instruction into the Kodiak Island Borough School District,
as well as with all different age groups,” said April Laktonen
Counceller, Alutiiq language manager for the Alutiiq Museum.

Oftentimes, Native schoolchildren feel disenfranchised and embarrassed
because of their heritage, Counceller explained, and therefore suffer
within the school system. With the information from the conference,
Native leaders and educators hope to implement culturally relevant
materials into schools and universities.

When Native students in rural communities receive culturally based
education, they are often more responsive and satisfied with their
education, Counceller said.

Counceller hopes to take inspiration from the Maori indigenous people of
New Zealand who have managed to maintain a healthy written and spoken
Native language through educational opportunities.

In addition to meeting with this extremely impressive assembly of
indigenous groups from around the world, the Kodiak delegation will
also present four main topics.

The presentation will include the Alutiiq Museum celebrating its 10th
anniversary, the Alutiiq language revitalization program, the Native
Educators of the Alutiiq Region and their efforts, and the Awakening
Bear Celebration.

People attending the conference include Counceller; Alisha Drabek,
professor of English at Kodiak College; Susan Malutin, Native leader
and educator; and Olga Pestrikoff and Peggy Stoltenberg, Old Harbor
teachers. In addition, Native Elders Dennis Knagin, Mary Haakanson,
Florence Pestrikoff and Nick Alokli will also attend.

Counceller said they are raising money to help people attend the
conference as the plane tickets alone will cost almost $4,000. The
Shoonaq Tribe is pledging money, and they are waiting to hear from
other tribes around the island. At the end of the summer there will
probably be a fundraising dinner and raffle, Counceller said.

Mirror writer Lauren Valone can be reached via e-mail at
fisheries at kodiakdailymirror .com