"How place names impact the way we see landscape"

How we perceive and relate to the landscape is defined by place names and the tales that go with them. Various aspects of colonization, including eviction, expulsion, abuse, environmental destruction, and cultural degradation, are reflected in the convoluted strata of false histories and questionable Indigenous narratives.

¨Culture and Substance abuse: Impact of culture affects approach to treatment¨

In this article it explains: The amount to which a person identifies with their original culture is assumed to be related to their use and misuse of drugs and alcohol. According to Native American elders, the decline of traditional culture is a contributing factor in many substance misuse issues. People who strongly identify with non-Native American values have been shown to take drugs at higher rates, whereas bicultural people who are at ease with both sets of cultural values have been found to use drugs at lower rates. Expectations regarding possible difficulties associated with drug usage are mainly influenced by culture.

¨Native American Teens at higher risk for substance use¨

This article explains: 1,700 Native American students from 31 schools around the country participated in the poll, and the results were compared to those from the University of Michigan's "Monitoring the Future" research, which tracks substance use among a sample of young people in the United States.The survey, which involved 1,700 Native American kids from 31 schools around the nation, was compared to findings from the University of Michigan's "Monitoring the Future" study, which examines substance use among a sample of young people in the United States. These young people are more likely to develop substance use problems due to high rates of lifetime exposure and present usage. The results emphasize the urgent need for early prevention initiatives that are tailored culturally for American Indian youths.

¨A new generation of Alutiiq speakers fight language loss in Kodiak¨

     Kodiak is known for bears and fish. Kodiak is also known for the movement to bring the Alutiiq language back. Stevi “Ani” Frets studied and learned the language, and is now a Alutiiq Language Mentor at the Alutiiq language house. She says “ Heritage languages are important and when you learn them you can't just take a break from learning it, you have to learn it on a daily basis.” Only some elders know and speak the language, with some other people they could only say a sentence but you can’t have a conversation with them. The tribes estimated that there are only 17 elders who are fluent Alutiiq speakers left. Haley Thompson says “part of the shunak tribe’s goal is to train fluent speakers who can in return teach the language.” People want teaching classes at the school and colleges but the problem with that is that there aren't enough fluent teachers to teach it. About a dozen preschoolers are enrolled in the Alutiiq child care center, they learn numbers and popular kids songs in Alutiiq. Florence Pestrikov says “ In the past, people were ashamed of their languages.” She feels complete when she speaks her language. The vision of the language movement is to have the language in use at home, at the grocery store and the streets. And to carry the values that are embedded in the words.