Page 3 - Lance Twitchell News Today

The Alaska Airlines plane — its name means Salmon People in Lingít — features a giant, colorful design by Crystal Worl depicting salmon in Northwest Coast formline.  The plane, named X̱áat Ḵwáani, features a giant, colorful design by Crystal Worl depicting salmon in Northwest Coast formline.

On Thursday, Alaska Airlines unveiled a new design that replaced the Salmon Thirty Salmon art known by many Alaskans.

Indigenous students were honored in annual Native Graduation Celebration.

Leaders from the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council talk with state lawmakers and their staff about the importance of their work and how they can help keep Indigenous languages alive.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - A dedication ceremony for Kootéeyaa Deiyí (Totem Pole Trail) was held Saturday afternoon at the Sealaska Heritage Plaza.

"I think [we can continue] to raise awareness to why indigenous languages are endangered. [...] So I think some of the things that could be next steps for us are, what’s the “now” and what’s the “later” conversation?"

A simpler name would reflect duties that go beyond mere language preservation, advocates say. More members are also needed, they say.

Another provision of the bill would expand the council to seven voting members from the current five.

A program at Juneau’s Harborview Elementary has been integrating Lingít language and culture into classroom teaching for decades. Now it’s expanding to middle school, with plans to teach other subjects in Lingít as well.

With funding from the Sealaska Heritage Institute, the program will add a fourth classroom in the fall, for sixth and seventh graders. They also plan to add eighth grade students in 2024.