The long-awaited coastal dialect Inupiaq Language CD-ROM learning tool is now available for purchase. The software program, developed by NANA with consultation from Rosetta-Stone, will be instrumental in preserving the Inupiaq Language in the Northwest Arctic and beyond.
The Language CD-ROM is available for purchase for $195 each. Mail orders add $10.00 shipping and handling; additional orders ship for just $3 per CD-ROM. >> ORDER NOW!
The Inupiat—which means “the real people”—live above the Arctic Circle in a vast, beautiful and sometimes harsh land in the Northwest part of Alaska. The Inupiaq culture is thousands of years old and centers on close family and community ties and a deep respect for nature. From one generation to the next these values have been passed down which have allowed the Inupiat to remain strong. In our ever-changing world Inupiaq traditions have been challenged by dramatic spiritual, economic and social changes. These changes have given rise to alarming rates of alcohol abuse, domestic violence, suicide and inter-generational conflict. Robert Newlin and other Inupiat leaders developed the Inupiat Ilitqusiat to renew traditional values, strengthen the peoples’ self-esteem and promote the survival of the Inupiaq culture. In the Inupiaq culture, Ilitqusiat refers to the inner spirit that makes each person unique. When individuals are in tune with that spirit, they are at their best...happy, productive, and able to help others in their family and community.
In 2005 the Aqqaluk Trust and the Native Village of Kotzebue conducted a survey showing that only 14 percent of the regions residents understand Inupiaq fluently, with 92% of fluent speakers over the age of 65. Armed with the knowledge that the Inupiaq language was in jeopardy, the Inuunailiqput Department of the Aqqaluk Trust formed the Inupiaq Language Commission to revitalize the language. The Inupiaq Language Commission strategies are to create a successful language revitalization effort. Listed below are several of many ways we are accomplishing our goals: Teaching children through the creation of language nests. Language is considered as being endangered when it is no longer learned by the children. The goal of the ILC is to connect the elders with the children through the creation of language nests. These language nests are events and places where Inupiaq is exclusively spoken so that the children of the region are exposed to the language in practical settings. Development of tools to help learners and teachers of Inupiaq. The ILC, in partnership with Rosetta Stone, developed a coastal dialect Inupiaq language CD-ROM. The CD–ROM uses the dynamic immersion method with constant interaction and feedback. The software will be instrumental in preserving the Inupiaq Language for future generations. >> ORDER NOW! If you would like to know more about the Inupiaq Language Commission or ways in which you can help please contact the Aqqaluk Trust Office:
(907) 442-1607 or toll-free 1-866-442-1607.
