In brief
In the wake of devastating floods caused by Typhoon Halong, Alaskan children are finding stability and cultural connection through a Yup’ik language immersion program in Anchorage. Educators, including principal Darrell Berntsen, emphasize the importance of maintaining indigenous languages and traditions, fostering a vital bridge between generations.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — After the remnants of Typhoon Halong led to widespread flooding in their coastal villages, many Alaskan Native families found themselves airlifted to the safety of Anchorage. Among the displaced is Rayann Martin, a ten-year-old Yup’ik-speaking child, who is adapting to life far from her home while attending school in a unique immersion program.
In her new classroom, Martin proudly displayed her knowledge of the Yup’ik language, sharing with her classmates how to count to ten — 'Qula!' echoed throughout the room. The floods left nearly 700 homes damaged and caused significant disruption to the lives of these rural Alaskan communities, with one confirmed dead and several people still missing.
The Yup’ik immersion program in Anchorage aims to help integrate children into a new environment while preserving their cultural heritage. It teaches students not only the Yup’ik language but also cultural values, aiding them as they cope with the loss of their familiar lifestyles.
Brandon Locke, the district's world language director, noted that the immersion program has adapted rapidly, welcoming 71 new students who now immerse themselves in the Yup’ik language for half of each school day. Teachers provide instruction in Yup’ik literacy, science, and social studies while also including English language arts and math to bridge their learning.
The immersion program is based in College Gate Elementary and Wendler Middle School, with principal Darrell Berntsen — an Alaska Native himself — leading efforts to make displaced families feel welcome and understood in their new surroundings. His connection to the community stems from his own family’s experiences during past natural disasters, allowing him to empathize with what these evacuees have endured.
With many students, like ten-year-old Ellyne Aliralria, haunted by memories of the floodwaters that uprooted their lives, the immersion program becomes a safe haven in the turbulence of their transition. As friendships blossom among students, the program not only serves an educational purpose but also strengthens emotional bonds that help them heal.
Classes are designed to ensure that all students leave with a deeper understanding of their heritage, bridging the gap between generations and giving them the tools to communicate with their elders in the Yup’ik language.
As Berntsen describes the program’s mission, there's a clear focus on 'giving back some of what the trauma had taken' — a testament to both the resilience of the communities affected and the ongoing efforts to revive and preserve Alaska Native traditions amidst adversity.
