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“Providing programs that encourage Unangax^ culture to flourish. Dedicated to preserving the past for the future good of the Unangax^ people”
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UNANGAM TUNUU (The Aleut Language) PRESERVATION
In January 2009 and February 2011, several tribal communities in the Aleutian Pribilof Islands region compiled lists of speakers enrolled in their tribes. Of the 13 tribes within the region, 8 have speakers, most of whom are over the age of 65! The table below shows the number of speakers by village.
Tribal Affiliation |
# of speakers Jan. 2009 |
# of speakers
Feb. 2011 |
Akutan Traditional Council |
2 |
1 |
Atka IRA Council |
59 |
56 |
Belkofski Village Council |
4 |
4 |
Agdaagux^ (King Cove) Tribal Council |
2 |
1 |
Nikolski IRA Council |
8 |
7 |
St. George Traditional Council |
29 |
24 |
Tribal Government of St. Paul |
34 |
26 |
Qawalangin (Unalaska) Tribal Council |
7 |
5 |
Total Number of Speakers in Aleutian Pribilof Islands Region |
145 |
124 |
In February 2011, there were 124 Unangax^ (Aleut) speakers or 3.5% of enrolled1 members of these 13 tribes. Between January 2009 and February 2011, we lost 21 Elders who were fluent speakers of Unangam Tunuu!
The Cultural Heritage Department is dedicated to helping revitalize and preserve the language and is continually seeking funding to continue:
~ Digitization and archive audio recordings
~ Translation, transcription, and transliteration of recorded and written material. Provide translations upon request and archive the material
~ Facilitate and support Unangam Tunuu lessons and classes
~ Develop material that will encourage and promote the use of Unangam Tunuu
~ Distribute the Unangam Tunuu Word of the Week
Many of our fluent speakers dedicate their time and knowledge to provide lessons, mentorship, translations, and audio/video recordings in the three main dialects: the Atka Dialect, the Pribilof dialect, and the Eastern dialect. The translations and audio recordings are used for language learning material, word of the week, newsletters, radio broadcasts, signs and posters, and any other media where Unangam Tunuu can be used. We are grateful for our fluent speakers whose expertise is essential to our Unangam Tunuu program.
UNANGAM TUNUU WORD OF THE WEEK
Each week a printable Adobe Acrobat PDF file and an mp3 sound file containing an Aleut word or phrase is sent via email. You can open the printable file to study the written Unangax^ phrase and listen to the mp 3 sound file to practice speaking the phrase. Please contact milliem@apiai.org if you would like to be receive the Unangam Tunuu Word of the Week via email.
TO PROPERLY VIEW THE UNANGAM TUNUU WORD OF THE WEEK YOU MUST HAVE THE UNANGAM TUNUU FONT INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER.
- If you would like to download the font please .
- To view & listen to the Word of the Week
ALEUT HERITAGE LIBRARY & ARCHIVE
The library is a continually growing collection of books, articles, audio and video recordings, photographs, maps, journals, and archival materials relating to Unangax^ history, culture, and the environment of the region. A unique component to our collection is the WWII Aleut evacuation and repatriation documentation. Our collection also contains Lydia Black’s archive and research material. Although it is a non-lending library, we are open to the public and welcome those interested in our collection to stop by.
CULTURE CAMP
The Urban Unangax^ Culture Camp is held annually at Unangam Ulaa (Home of the Aleuts), APIA’s Anchorage facility. Our summer camp provides cultural enrichment activities for children, youth and adults and the opportunity to learn traditional skills such as: bentwood visor construction, full-size and model kayak building, language, dance, basket weaving, beaded headdresses, regalia and skin sewing, traditional foods activities, and many other fun activities.
The Urban Unangax^ Culture camp dates for 2013 are set for June 23-29.
Please see below, for the dates and times for each age group. Elders are welcome anytime during camp—morning, afternoon, or evening.
Applications are DUE JUNE 14, 2013.
YOUTH, 11 TO 17: JUNE 23, 1:00 to 5:00 pm JUNE 24 - 29, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Youth Application and additonal info
CHILDREN, 10 & under: JUNE 24 - 28, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Child Application and additonal info
ADULTS : JUNE 23 - JUNE 28, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Adult Application and additional info
POTLUCK: JUNE 29, 1 pm to 3 pm at Unangam Ulaa - Bring a dish to share
See you at the end of June!
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Cultural Heritage Department is to preserve
Unanga{ (Aleut) heritage and to
provide programs that encourage Unanga{
culture to flourish. Knowledge of
Unanga{ culture is critical to the identity
and survival of the Unangan (Aleuts) as a unique group of Alaska Natives.
The Unanga{ people have a cultural history
in the region that extends at least
8,000 years into the past; the Cultural Heritage
Department is dedicated to preserving that past
for the future good of the Unanga{ people.
Our goal is to preserve information, objects and places relevant to Unanga{ culture which includes but is not limited to, Unanga{ languages,
traditional knowledge and values,
cultural practices, art, history, archaeological and historical sites, and cultural objects.
Our audience is primarily the Unangan,
however, we also seek to educate the
general public about our history and culture.
The scope of our work includes preservation
programs to record information pertinent
to Unanga{ cultural heritage, and education programs to teach Unanga{ cultural practices
and values to new generations and to inform
all people about Unanga{ life and culture,
both past and present.
DONATIONS ARE WELCOME!
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