Tongue Unbroken

We are joined by Éedaa Heather Burge and Shodzi'dzo:wa:’ Damian Webster to talk about their language journey and current work, and also about systemic changes they hope to see in the near future. They also shared their thoughts on how to balance teaching the complexities of Indigenous languages while also being true to the spirit of the language and its ancestors, and then on how to be the medicin...

We are joined by Dr. Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and former director of Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. She shares her language journey, and then we talk about the elements that may have made the Hawaiian language movement successful. We also talk about strategies and trying to determine when you deco...

We are joined by multimedia artist Yéil Ya-Tseen Nicholas Galnin, who is from Sheetkʼá (Sitka, Alaska) and performs music as Ya Tseen. He is a 2024 Guggenheim Fellow, can be found on Sub-Pop Records, and has work featured around the world that is in sculpture, jewelry, video, and installation. His works speak to sovereignty, racial, social, and environmental justice, and for Landback initiatives....

We are joined by Ḵasheechtlaa Louise Brady to talk about the path that led to sobriety and work with protecting the invaluable and threatened herring run to Southeast Alaska. Yaaw (herring) produce a vital food source to the Lingít peoples, and are an indicator species for ecosystem balance within the interconnected worlds of living things in the ocean. Ḵasheechtlaa tells a story about reconnectin...

We are joined by writer T’set kwei Vera Starbard and musician Shaaḵindustóow Ed Littlefield to discuss their path to becoming an Emmy-nominated writer, playwright, editor, professional percussionist, educator, and composer. They also talk about their experiences as the librettist, translator, and composer of an upcoming Lingít opera about Sheetkʼá (Sitka) and battles for land rights and safety tha...

Dr. Iene Vini Olsen-Reeder joins us for a conversation about Individual language journeys and social reclamation movements with the intention of bringing our languages home by being excellent multilinguals. Iene is a co-host of the upcoming podcast  2 Couple to Kōrero, which will talk about bringing languages home from the perspective of a couple committed to language use as individuals and as a f...

We are joined by Denaʼina scholar and language teacher Łiq'a yes Joel Isaak to talk about language journeys, the ways that being a visual artist can help create visual representations of grammar, Tribal school and programs, and staying strong and focused through dramatic changes. Isaak is an artist and installs large level artwork, and also works in education, which are two traits that combine to...

We are joined by Yawdunéi Arias Hoyle, who performs as Air Jazz, to talk about his work as a Hip Hop artist that uses Lingít Yoo X̱ʼatángi (the Lingít language) in his work. We are honored to feature three of his songs: S’áxt’, Nakaaní/Shaax’wsaani, and Ch’áak Waak (ft. Radiophonic), and talk about learning and using Lingít, taking the language into new realms, and maintaining a loving and support...

We are joined by Rochelle Adams, Language Access Director for the Alaska Public Interest Research Group and Gwichʼin language speaker, learner, and teacher, for a discussion on language journeys, making Indigenous voices count, and brilliant Indigenous futures. Indigenous languages connect with each other across vast time and space to make lasting impacts and connections, and part of our daily wor...

Dr. Walkie Charles is a Yupʼik language professor and the Director of the Alaska Native Language Center. He joins us to talk about his approach to language teaching, surviving and overcoming horrendous boarding school experiences, and brushing off the terrible parts of life in order to be yourself in language reclamation movements. The Boarding School Era, known as the Residential School Era in Ca...

We are joined by Yaayuk Bernadette Alvanna-Stimpfle, a high fluency first language speaker of Iñupaq, the director of the Kawerak, Inc. Heritage Program, and a doctoral candidate at Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. She shares her wisdom as an Indigenous language teacher, developer of teacher preparation methodologies, and as a member of...

The Northwest Coast is well known for totem poles, bentwood boxes, Chilkat blankets, wall screens, and many more items that are significant cultural property of Indigenous peoples of the area. We are joined by master Lingít artist Yéil Yádi Nathan Jackson, who has been a practicing artist for over six decades and whose works have been installed worldwide. He shares his journey of becoming an artis...

We are joined by the talented and wonderful Princess Daazhraii Johnson, who is an actor, producer, writer, and concerned citizen of the universe. She is the former Creative Producer and still is a writer for the Emmy-nominated PBS series Molly of Denali, which features a Native American female as the lead character. She shares about her journey in becoming a content creator, current projects and m...

In this episode we visit with Dr. Náakw Latseení Tina Woods, Senior Director of Community & Behavioral Services at Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Dr. Tina shares her perspective on Indigenous healing centers, living in wellness, and dealing with historical and personal traumas while on a lifelong language journey. This episode contains sensitive material that may...

In episode 2, we are joined by Shodzi'dzo:wa:’ Damian Webster and Montgomery Hill who do amazing work in the Seneca and Tuscarora languages. We talk about their languages, communities, and work, and then give perspectives on what it takes to create speakers, and then talk about what it takes to keep going and not quit while doing this type of work. Keep on going, keep on believing, keep being the...

In the first episode of season two, we are joined by Dr Kauanoe Kamana and Dr William “Pila” Wilson, who were both instrumental to the Hawaiian Language Reclamation movement. They collaborated with a courageous and amazing group of changemakers to create the ‘Aha Pūnana Leo (language nest) and Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu (language medium school). They talk about what helped them create change a...

Season 2 of the Tongue Unbroken is coming out on January 16th. Please join us for conversations on language revitalization and decolonization in North America. We will be covering a wide range of topics this season that are relevant to everyone in North America, because if you live in North America, you live in Native America. Indigenous lands, Indigenous peoples, Indigenous stories, Indigenous th...

La quen náay Liz Medicine Crow and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins join X̱ʼunei to look back on the spring of 2014 when they worked together with each other and others to pass a law that made Alaska Native Languages the co-official languages of Alaska. They talk about the process and how to create change through political methods, including how to defeat those with racist ideologies. Follow Tongue unbroke...

Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day with the brilliant and powerful Saankaláxtʻ Ernestine Hayes. Listen to her lecture titled, “An Alaska Native Memoir: Our Lives are Stories Telling Themselves” which was recorded by the Sealaska Heritage Institute during their fall lecture series. During her talk, she addresses the many harmful tactics of colonialism and ponders what Native America would be like no...

Executive Director Stephanie Witkowski and Board Chair Dr. Bill Rivers from 7000 Languages join X̱ʼunei to talk about technology and language learning, and how a commitment to bringing technology to language learning communities can help language movements. They talk about the history of the organization, current projects, the benefits and limitations of technology in language learning, and how to...

Shiggoap Alfie Price and Barbara Belk from the Juneau Smʼalgya̱x Language Learners join to talk about how they started a grassroots learning group when they were far from home and did not have birth speakers around them. They talk about who they are, about their language, and how they got started and maintained a group of teachers and learners that are led by the language and respect. They also gi...

Travel back in time with the Tongue Unbroken! In episode 8 we listen to a panel presentation made at the University of Alaska Southeast, virtually, for Indigenous Peoplesʼ Day 2021. The panel is made up of powerhouses in Native American language revitalization, including Larry Kimura, Leslie Harper, Miqueʼl Dangeli, Joel Isaak, and Roy Mitchell. Follow Tongue unbroken on social media at https://tw...

Fellow University of Alaska Southeast Professor Éedaa Heather Burge drops by to talk about teaching and learning Indigenous languages, and how to decolonize colonial institutions. She also shares her thoughts on staying afloat while working, teaching, learning, and finishing a PhD program at the same time. X̱ʼunei and Éedaa also talk about what to do with outdated racist texts and the sneaky way t...

Tribal member Karelle Hall and linguist Keith Cunningham join to talk about their work with the Nanticoke Tribe in Millsboro, Delaware to revitalize their language, which had not been spoken since 1859. They talk about the work it takes to bring a language back, and the ways that collaboration and belief in overcoming genocide can help move back towards language use and strength. They also share i...

Teachers from the Haa Yoo X̱ʼatángi Kúdi (Our Language Nest) join X̱ʼunei to talk about running a language nest. Daaljíni Mary Cruise, Kaasteen Jill Meserve, Neelaatughaa Anna Clock, Naak Emily Sheakley, And Shkayltín Claire Helgeson talk about thei work in the language nest, how the nest was started, what it takes to start one, dealing with the loss of speakers, and sharing funny stories about wo...