February 6 Alaska Native Corporations Seminar, RSVP here
February 17 Early registration closes for the combined Region 8 and Region 9 Conference hosted by NACADA
February 19 A Place For Knowledge Exchange: Highlighting the work of the Alaska Tribal Resilience Learning Network, register here
February 22 Deadline for Pathfinder Award Nominations, submit here
January 1st - March 1 Application period for RAHI 2025
In early January, as a powerful snow blizzard swept through Nome, the Northwest Campus hosted a regional workforce training in boiler maintenance, repair, and residential heating controls. Despite challenging weather, eleven students from communities across the Bering Strait region gathered for the six-day training. Participants earned four UAF credits through two Construction Trades Technology courses: CTT 135 Boiler Maintenance & Repair and CTT 138 Residential Heating Controls.
UAF Community and Technical College instructors Eli Fleener and Ryan Ford (Ryan is pictured on the right with CTT students in class) led most of the instruction at Northwest Campus, providing engaging classroom coursework. As students developed their skills, they had the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Guided closely by their instructors, students worked on various troubleshooting and repair needs within the local community, gaining valuable hands-on experience in diverse situations. Reflecting on his experience, student Dave Evans shared:
"It was very beneficial for me as a landlord and property owner. It was great to learn more about the boiler in depth by taking burners apart and putting them back together, learning what each part was and its purpose. I would recommend this training and encourage more folks to take this, as we are short on plumbers in our region. Ryan and Eli are knowledgeable and great instructors!"
These courses are part of the Northwest Campus’s 9-credit Heating & Plumbing Campus Credential program, which equips students with the skills to maintain and repair home and facility heating and plumbing systems. From monitor stoves to boilers, students learn how these systems operate and how to troubleshoot when repairs are needed. The credential also provides a pathway to the 18-credit Facility Maintenance Occupational Endorsement through UAF’s Community and Technical College. Student Veronica Alviso highlighted the impact of the training:
"Taking this course has given me a newfound appreciation for the trades – an often overlooked field when discussing career paths. The skills I’ve gained will undoubtedly help me keep my home safe and warm. I particularly valued the hands-on experience and the opportunity to troubleshoot real-world boiler problems, while helping my community members."
This training opportunity was made possible through several key partnerships. The Northwest Campus and College of Indigenous Studies Student Services coordinated the courses and provided student support. Kawerak, Inc., a regional training partner, graciously funded travel, lodging, and tuition for tribally enrolled students. Instructors Ryan Ford and Eli Fleener from the UAF Community and Technical College’s Construction Trades Technology Program played a crucial role in delivering the coursework.
Our sincere gratitude goes out to all the organizations and individuals who contributed to the success of this vital rural training opportunity. Photo provided by Kacey Miller.
The College of Indigenous Studies is pleased to highlight Bruce Ervin, Term Assistant Professor of Language and Culture at UAF’s Interior Alaska Campus in Tok, for receiving the People’s Endowment Award to support his upcoming course, APAR F150: Introduction to Traditional Crafts – Whitefish Set Gillnet.
Ervin, who is originally from Northway, learned traditional skills and language from his elders and has incorporated these teachings into his work at UAF since 2022. With the support of the People’s Endowment, he will offer this three-credit course for the first time, allowing students to learn the intricate process of making a whitefish set gillnet, including knot tying, net preparation, and subsistence fishing regulations.
“I'm very thankful for the Peoples Endowment Award, and I'm sure the students are going to have fun learning a new art that they can apply to their ways of life.”
The People’s Endowment, established in 1986, funds projects that enhance UAF but might not otherwise receive institutional support. This award enables Ervin to provide hands-on learning opportunities that preserve and pass down traditional knowledge.
The class, offered via Zoom from February 18 to April 24, 2025, is limited to 20 students due to available supplies. For more information on the course, contact Crystal Wilson (cdwilson@alaska.edu) or Misty Walsh (mdwalsh2@alaska.edu).
Three team members from the Center for One Health Research (COHR) - Lena Thompson, COHR Postdoctoral Fellow; Hudson Bolduc, One Health Master’s Coordinator; and Kelsey Nicholson, COHR Program Administrator - had the opportunity to attend the American Geophysical Union (AGU) science conference in Washington, D.C., in December 2024. Representing both the College of Indigenous Studies (CIS) and COHR, they joined more than 25,000 attendees from around the world at this premier scientific gathering.
Before the main event, the team participated in a full-day grant writing workshop. Throughout the conference, they engaged with attendees by sharing materials, fun facts, and insights about CIS programs. They highlighted the college’s supportive and welcoming environment, which plays a key role in student success. Many attendees were unfamiliar with One Health, making this a valuable opportunity to introduce its holistic approach—one that deeply aligns with CIS values and the One Health Master’s degree. Interest in CIS and COHR was high, with many eager to learn more!
This spring, the College of Indigenous Studies is excited to offer its first-ever beading classes, marking a significant milestone in preserving and sharing Alaska Native cultural traditions. Led by renowned artist Michelle Bailey, these classes provide students with hands-on experience in the intricate art of beadwork, a practice deeply rooted in Alaska Native culture.
Beading has long been an important form of expression and storytelling, and now, for the first time, students have the opportunity to explore this art under expert guidance. The classes offer more than just a craft—they provide a chance to connect with Alaska Native heritage, explore its history, and contribute to its future.
Open to all students, both beginning and intermediate beadwork classes are offered for 3 credits and take place in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person and remote participation.
By offering these classes, the College of Indigenous Studies helps ensure that this beautiful tradition continues to thrive, encouraging students to engage with and contribute to the preservation of Alaska Native culture.
You can watch the promotion reel for the beading classes on Facebook and Instagram.
From January 18th to 20th, a three-day Sámi language workshop, hosted by Hannah Zimmerman, Odd-Máhtte Sara and guest speaker Simon Forsmark (pictured) and sponsored by the Alaska Native Language Center (ANLC), offered participants an immersive experience into the language and culture of the Sámi people. The workshop, which filled up within a few days, was designed to give priority access to those with Sámi ancestry, providing an opportunity to reclaim and revitalize their language and heritage.
“I would LOVE to continue learning with Hannah, Odd-Máhtte, and the Alaska Native Language Center!!”
The Sámi language is part of the Uralic language family and is native to the regions of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. It is spoken by the Sámi people, who are traditionally nomadic and renowned for their distinctive brightly colored traditional clothing and reindeer herding practices. As an endangered language, the workshop served as a vital resource for preserving and passing on the language to future generations.
With a total of 25 participants, the workshop offered lessons in basic greetings, common phrases, numbers, body parts, and Sámi grammar. Students also learned about the history of the Sámi people and their language. The engaging course provided students with both linguistic and cultural knowledge, all while being immersed in the language for three full days.
“Excellent workshop! Thank you for this rather rare opportunity to learn more about North Sámi and Sámi in Alaska. I am looking forward to hearing about potential future courses--particularly language and literature offerings.”
In addition to the course content, the workshop provided a supportive environment for those seeking to reconnect with their Sámi roots.
“Overall, thank you both so much for the time and hard work that you put into this class! It was really great to be in such a supportive group of people trying to reconnect to this language, and you both were so lovely and knowledgeable. Ollu giitu!”
Feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the chance to learn and reconnect with their cultural identity. The workshop’s success highlights the growing desire for language reclamation and the preservation of endangered languages like Sámi. As the Sámi language is revitalized in Alaska, this workshop stands as a shining example of community-driven efforts to celebrate and protect Indigenous languages and traditions.
The College of Indigenous Studies recognizes Natasha Hayden, an Alutiiq/Sugpiaq advocate from Kodiak, for her dedication to environmental stewardship and Alaska Native fishing rights. She has been honored with a 2024 Environmental Leader Award by the Center for Rural Affairs, which highlights individuals making a lasting impact in rural communities.
Hayden, a Tamamta Fellow, has been a strong voice for fisheries access, serving on multiple state and federal advisory committees. As a tribal council member for the Native Village of Afognak, she has worked to restore fisheries access for Kodiak Archipelago communities. Her advocacy aligns with the mission of the School of Indigenous Studies, emphasizing Indigenous stewardship of natural resources.
This national recognition includes a $25,000 award to support her ongoing efforts. Hayden’s work builds on generations of Alutiiq resource management, ensuring future access to traditional fisheries and sustainable marine ecosystems.
