Bristol Bay Information
CEDS Projects
CULTURAL GOAL: Support region wide Cultural Revitalization efforts that empower and heal the local population.
Table of Contents
Project: BBNCEF- The Bristol Bay Bristol Bay Teaching & Learning Collaborative’s (BBTLC) – Improving Teaching Quality in our Indigenous Communities to Increase Student Success
Project Description: The Bristol Bay Teaching & Learning Collaborative’ s (BBTLC).
People/Organizations responsible for completing these steps: The Bristol Bay Native Corporation Education Foundation (BNCEF) will be the project lead and will work with the Alaska Humanities Forum, four Bristol Bay School Districts – Bristol Bay Borough School District, Dillingham City Schools District, Lake and Peninsula School District, and the Southwest Region School District, University of Alaska Anchorage, and Bristol Bay Region Career and Technical Education Program to meet project outcomes.
Cost Estimates:
Costs: $1,400,000 – 1,600,000 annually for 3 years – Total Project Budget $4,200,000)
Timeline: 2022-2025
Funding Partners: BBNC Education Foundation, Bristol Bay Borough School District, Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education, Dillingham City School District, Lake and Peninsula School District, Alaska Humanities Forum.
Evaluation Measures:
- Students who attend camp increase; cultural knowledge/skillsets, a stronger sense of cultural identity, express a deeper understanding of the local and regional cultures of Bristol Bay, increase their knowledge of education careers in their communities. improved relationships with their schoolteachers, and express interest in education careers.
- Students, BBLTC, C3 educators increase their awareness and interaction with CCRR resources.
- Locally grown educators increase their knowledge of education career options or pathways, and express interest in advancing their educational credentials.
- Educators increase; their confidence in their culturally responsive classroom practices, access to local resources, have community support, and meet regularly with cultural mentors, and increase their knowledge of the Alaska Native cultures of Bristol Bay.
- Increase locally grown teachers and educational leaders.
- Trust is at the center of education in Bristol Bay (between teachers and students, teachers and communities, and schools and communities).
- Bristol Bay schools are grounded in the cultures of their communities and local culture, knowledge, language, and values are reflected throughout the schools, materials, teachers and administrations.
Key Project Contact:
Name: Kay Larson-Blair
Title: Cultural Heritage Program Officer
Organization: Bristol Bay Native Corporation Education Foundation
Project: BBNC Culture Camp
Project Description: The BBNC Culture Camp is an opportunity for BBNC shareholders and descendants in grades 9-12 to share and be exposed to the cultures, languages, and traditions of the Bristol Bay region. Culture Camp is a time to come together to share and learn our ways of knowing, doing, and being as descendants of Bristol Bay’s three cultural groups: Alutiiq, Dena’ina, and Yup’ik. Participants will experience camping and living off the land through a variety of activities from local knowledge bearers from across the region. In addition, participants will be exposed to traditional crafts, language learning, and song and dance.
People/Organizations responsible for completing these steps:
Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) – Culture Camp Director assumes overall leadership of planning and implementation of the BBNC/BBNCEF Culture Camp Program, Bristol Bay Native Corporation Education Foundation (BNCEF) – Cultural Heritage Program Officer helps as needed to assure a successful camp.
Cost Estimates:
Costs: An estimated $210,000
Timeline: Summers of 2022-2025
Funding Partners: BBNC and BBNCEF
Evaluation Measures:
- Number of youths that participate in culture camp.
Key Project Contact:
Name: Rebecca Sedor
Title: BBNC Culture Camp Director
Organization: Bristol Bay Native Corporation
Project: BBNCEF Assess and Develop Plan to restore and increase speakers for the Peninsula Dialect of Alutiiq language
Project Description: Assess, document and develop plan to restore and increase speakers for the Peninsula Dialect of Alutiiq language. The Alutiiq/Sugpiaq language has two recognized dialects, Koniag and Chugach. The Koniag dialect is spoken from the Alaska Peninsula to Kodiak, whereas the Chugach dialect is spoken from the Kenai Peninsula to Prince William Sound. Most classes being offered were from the Kodiak area and consisted of the Kodiak Alutiiq dialect. Based on interviews there are very few (less than 10) first-language speakers of Alutiiq. Our Alutiiq communities are located on the Alaska Peninsula from Egegik, down to Perryville, and up to Lake Iliamna. Of Bristol Bay’s three languages, Alutiiq has the lowest number of speakers.
People/Organizations responsible for completing these steps: The Bristol Bay Native Corporation Education Foundation (BNCEF) will be the project lead and will work with the Native Village of Port Heiden and Tribes in our Alutiiq Communities to document and interview local Alutiiq Speakers.
Cost Estimates:
Costs: An estimated $360,000 annually for 3 years (A final budget will be produced in March 2022)
Timeline: 2022-2026
Funding Partners: BBNC Education Foundation and Native Village of Port Heiden
Evaluation Measures:
- Identify number of speakers
- Identify and document Traditional Place Names for Alutiiq Communities
- Identify plan moving forward for next steps.
Key Project Contact:
Name: Kay Larson-Blair
Title: Cultural Heritage Program Officer
Organization: Bristol Bay Native Corporation Education Foundation
Project: UAF-BBC Improve student success through development of curriculum and instructors that incorporates Alaskan Native Art, Language, or Cultural Activities.
Project Description: Develop & train experienced local instructors for workforce development. Create classes that support One Health comprehensive approach to student learning.
People/Organizations responsible for completing these steps: UAF rural campuses: Bristol Bay, Northwest, Chukchi, and Kuskokwim
Cost Estimates:
Costs: $305,000
Timeline: October 2022 – September 2027
Funding Partners: DOE Title III NASNTI, Margaret Ann Cargill Philanthropies
Evaluation Measures:
- Number of new instructors approved.
- Number of courses taught by new instructors.
- Number of students who report their health was improved by taking the course.
Key Project Contact:
Name: Laura Zimin
Title: Faculty, Tribal Governance
Organization: UAF Bristol Bay Campus
Project: Tuyuryaq Youth Activities and Cultural Center, City of Togiak
Project Description: The City of Togiak owns the old Togiak School which includes a gym, shop, library and several classrooms. The City of Togiak would like to begin by renovating the library and an adjacent room for the community to use as a gathering place, youth activities center and a cultural teaching place.
People/Organizations responsible for completing these steps: City of Togiak, Togiak Traditional Council
Cost Estimates:
Costs: $750,000.00
Timeline: 2 Years
Funding Partners: Traditional Council of Togiak, Togiak Natives Limited, Denali Commission, BBEDC
Evaluation Measures:
- Project Coordinator hired.
- Renovation Materials Ordered and Shipped
- Ten people are hired for construction.
- Renovations completed in classroom and library.
Key Project Contact:
Name: Tom Lowe, togiakmayor@outlook.com, 907-493-5820
Title: Mayor
Organization: City of Togiak