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Qaneryararput Yugtun Piniqerput ken ka il ak elriit Lorem ip su m d o lo r si t amet, Qaneryararput Cugtun Kayuqerput October 13 - 16, 2019 Carlson Center Fairbanks, AK On the ancestral lands of the Dena' peoples of the lower Tanana River BOARDFirst OF TRUSTEESAlaskans Institute Board of Trustees & Staff Willie Iġġiagruk Hensley (Iñupiaq), Chair Sylvia Lange (Aleut/Tlingit), Trustee Sam Kito, Jr. (Tlingit), Vice Chair Oliver Leavitt (Iñupiaq), Trustee Valerie Davidson (Yup’ik), Secretary/Treasurer Georgianna Lincoln (Athabascan), Trustee Byron Mallott (Tlingit), Trustee IN MEMORIAM Sven Haakanson, Jr. (Sugpiaq), Trustee Morris K. Thompson (Athabascan) Albert Kookesh (Tlingit), Trustee STAFF Barbara ‘Wáahlaal Gíídaak Blake (Haida/Tlingit/Ahtna Athabascan), Alaska Native Policy Center Director Karla Gatgyedm Hana’ax Booth (Ts’msyen), Indigenous Leadership Continuum Director Anna Ts'aayeneekeelno Clock (Koyukon Athabascan/Eyak), Indigenous & Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator Elizabeth Uyuruciaq David (Yup’ik), Finance Director Angela Łot’oydaatlno Gonzalez (Koyukon Athabascan), Indigenous Communications Manager Kacey Qunmiġu Hopson (Iñupiaq), Indigenous Knowledge Advocate Colin Tass’aq McDonald (Yup’ik), Sustainability Manager Elizabeth La quen náay Medicine Crow (Haida/Tlingit), President/CEO Abra Ann Nuŋasuk Patkotak (Iñupiaq), Special Assistant to the President/CEO Ayyu Qassataq (Iñupiaq), Vice President & Indigenous Operations Director Brianna Sauraq Smith (Iñupiaq), Indigenous Operations Assistant Ella Sassuuk Tonuchuk (Yup’ik), Indigenous Leadership Continuum Coordinator 2019 Statewide Elders & Youth Council ALEUTIAN CHAIN & PRIBILOFS NORTH SLOPE SOUTHCENTRAL Chyonne Buterin, Youth Rep. Andrea Brower, Youth Rep. Andrea Wagner, Youth Rep. Jacob Merculief, Elder Rep. David Maasak Leavitt, Jr., Elder Rep. Emily Charles, Youth Rep. Leah Lekanoff, Youth Alt. Rep. Kaesyn Hill, Youth Alt. Rep. Sharon Isaak, Elder Rep. Patricia Lekanoff Gregory, Elder Alt. Rep. Herbert Kinneeveak, Jr., Bobbi Oskolkoff, Elder Rep. BRISTOL BAY Elder Alt. Rep. Tyrell Andrew-Parrett, Youth Alt. Rep. Maya Geltzer, Youth Rep. NORTHWEST ARCTIC Phyllis Bookey, Elder Alt. Rep. Evan Wonhola, Elder Rep. Kaden Ticket, Youth Rep. Zachary Tilden, Youth Alt. Rep. Virginia Commack, Elder Rep. SOUTHEAST Philip Akelkok, Elder Alt. Rep. Kiarah Melton, Youth Alt. Rep. Amiah Johnson, Youth Rep. COPPER RIVER BASIN Shield Downey, Elder Alt. Rep. Monique Clevenger, Youth Rep. Marsha Hotch, Elder Rep. Jalene Voyles, Youth Rep. NORTON SOUND Callie Martin, Youth Alt. Rep. Christopher Gene, Elder Rep. Paris Hebel, Youth Rep. Bob Sam, Elder Alt. Rep. Natonya Maxim, Youth Alt. Rep. Josephine Bourdon, Elder Rep. Dorothy Shinn, Elder Alt. Rep. Alexis Rexford, Youth Alt. Rep. YK DELTA INTERIOR Cynthia Ahwnona, Elder Alt. Rep. Tyler Joe, Youth Rep. John Phillip, Elder Rep. Jennifer Guthrie, Youth Rep. PRINCE WILLIAMS SOUND Tsion Williams, Youth Alt. Rep. Jack Wholecheese, Elder Rep. Dasia Gall, Youth Rep. Marie Meade, Elder Alt. Rep. James Bursch, Youth Alt. Rep. Karen Katelnikoff, Elder Rep. Sharon Tyone, Elder Alt. Rep. Ben Kompkoff, Youth Alt. Rep. KODIAK ISLAND Paul Komkoff, Jr., Elder Alt. Rep. Skylar Gertz, Youth Rep. Evie Russell,Elder Rep. See page 10 for Regional Breakout Sessions and for Devon Von Scheele, Youth Alt. Rep. information on serving on our Nancy Nelson, Elder Alt. Rep. 2020 Statewide Elders & Youth Council! WELCOME TO THE 2019 ELDERS & YOUTH CONFERENCE 2018 Elder keynote speaker Ugiaqtag Wesley Aiken (Iñupiaq) of Utqiaġvik. Photo by Sven Haakanson, Jr. We are honored to uplift our Alaska Native languages at our 36th Annual Elders & Youth Conference! Our theme, “Qaneryararput Yugtun Piniqerput” (Yup’ik) and “Qaneryararput Cugtun Kayuqerput” (Cup’ik) loosely translates into a close approximation of our intent in English, which is “Language is Our Superpower.” With this theme, we wanted to acknowledge the special power our languages have in our identity, health and self-governance. We thank Marie Meade (Yup'ik), Elder, for sharing her translation and spelling of this year's theme. To learn, live and speak our languages every day, a direct line to our Ancestors and the living personification of our beautiful lands of Alaska, brings us both backwards and forwards in time! As indigenous peoples alive today, we get to be part of the generation who keep the fires of our languages alive, and that makes us stronger. Not only is this a special power, it is a special responsibility. We anticipate over 700 attendees who will gather for this convening designed to encourage the transference of knowledge between Elders and youth. We will engage in dialogues on critical issues to amplify the voices of our attendees. We could not put on the conference without the love and support of our community, volunteers and sponsors. Quyana cakneq to all for bringing your thoughts, ideas and experience and practicing the Native value of sharing. We ask for your grace and forgiveness as we work to create an indigenous process. Welcome and enjoy plugging into the wisdom and knowledge of our Elders, language bearers, culture bearers and new ideas; and connecting and lifting each other up! Willie Iġġiagruk Hensley Elizabeth La quen náay Karla Gatgyedm Hana’ax Booth (Iñupiaq) Medicine Crow (Haida/Tlingit) (Ts’msyen) Board Chair President/CEO Indigenous Leadership Continuum Director First Alaskans Institute utilizes a diversity of people and organizations to deliver this unique conference. Inclusion may not mean endorsement of the presenters or organizations they may be engaged with. Rather, they are offered to engage the wisdom, knowledge, world view, and consciousness of our amazing participants. We thank all who work alongside of us to create this content and experience for our participants. Qaneryararput Yugtun Piniqerput (Yup’ik) • Qaneryararput Cugtun Kayuqerput (Cup’ik) 1 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS > Elder • Sally Tugidam Ayagaa Swetzof (Unangax) Elder Tugidam Ayagaa was born and raised in a family of seven in Atka by her mother, Clara Snigaroff. Her maternal grandparents were Andrew Snigaroff of Atka, an Iqyax (kayak) builder, and Mary (Prokopeuff) Snigaroff of Attu, a basket weaver. Starting as an administrative aide, Tugidam Ayagaa worked her way up to the Unangam Tunuu language head teacher to all K-12 students at the Atka Netsvetov School. She is a founding member of Atxam Taligisniikangis (Atka Dancers), providing vital translations for many of the group’s original songs. In 2001, she began teaching sewing and beading of regalia and headdresses, and traditional food gathering and preparation, all while incorporating Unangam Tunuu. She is passionate about instilling in her children and grandchildren’s generations to be proud of who they are as Native people and to live and share our ways of life, including speaking our own languages. In 2013, Tugidam Ayagaa was awarded the Shareholder of the Year Award by The Aleut Corporation and the Alaska Federation of Natives President’s Culture Bearer Award. She is a cultural consultant for the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA) Wellness Program and an Elder speaker mentor for the regional Language Revitalization program. She has contributed to the APIA Unangam Tunuu App, Atka dialect. Youth • Oliver Tusagvik & Wilson Mungnak Hoogendorn (Iñupiaq) Tusagvik and Mungnak were born and raised in Nome. Their parents are Brenna Outwater and Willy Hoogendorn. Their maternal grandparents are Martha Outwater and Richard Durham Jr. and paternal grandparents are Homer Hoogendorn and BJ Bains- Jordan. In May, the brothers climbed Denali, the highest mountain in North America. At 20,310 feet above sea level, it took them 14 days to ascend Denali and a day and a half to ski down. Tusagvik is 22 years old, currently attending Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, soon to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology. He enjoys backcountry skiing, running, carving ivory and making ulus. Mungnak is 20 years old and is majoring in Aeronautical Studies to become a pilot at the University of Alaska Anchorage. His hobbies include skiing, running and carving ivory. He enjoys being active and breathing fresh air outside. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 • AGENDA 12 pm Registration & Check In Opens– Prow Avoid the lines on Monday. Register today! Men’s, Women’s & 1 pm Warming of the Hands Gathering – Art Buswell LGBTQAI2S+ House 2 pm Men’s House – North Arena We utilize Men’s House, Women’s House Women’s House – Art Buswell and LGBTQAI2S+ to honor our peoples’ LGBTQAI2S+ House – East Side Pavilion rites of passage - for connecting, healing, 4 pm Regional Breakout Session – See page 10 for room and learning. Please join the house you assignments feel most comfortable in. 5 pm Hóoch! “That’s all” said when speaking Tlingit Please note, schedule is subject to change. 2 2019 First Alaskans Institute Elders & Youth Conference MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 • AGENDA 7 am Dawn Prayers (Optional) -Gathering outside for 10:25 am Living Into Purpose - Commitments for prayers, singing and dancing Community Change, An Interactive Dialogue 7:30 am Registration & Check In Opens Mikki Tomita, Education Incubator 8 am Community Hall Opens 11:15 am Plenary Dialogue 2nd Floor Mezzanine (East & West) 11:35 am Strength of Your Voice: Performance Poetry 8:30 am Statewide Broadcast Begins Roanna Shebala (Dine/Zuni) – Institute of GCI Channel 1, HD 907, ARCS, 360 North and at American Indian Arts www.firstalaskans.org 12 pm Navigating Debt Collectors: Spotting Scams and 8:30 am Welcome,