UA faculty team up to produce new resource on Alutiiq writing system
by Michelle Saport |
"The Alutiiq Orthography: Kodiak Dialect," a book describing the writing system for the endangered Kodiak Island style of Alutiiq, was published recently by the Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak with funding from the National Science Foundation. Authored by Kodiak College faculty April Counceller, Ph.D., and UAF professor emeritus Jeff Leer, Ph.D., the project was intended to produce a community resource as well as a textbook for an upcoming university course about the Alutiiq writing system.
"This resource has been needed for many years," says Counceller, who partnered with local Elders and organizations like Chugachmiut Inc. on the project. With the growing number of learners creating materials in the language and fluent Elders wanting to become literate, the free book is quickly being distributed to community members and other interested learners.
Copies can be ordered through the Alutiiq Museum or from the Alaska Native Language Center at UAF for just the cost of shipping. Also, a PDF download is available online.
Counceller's orthography class will be offered this fall at Kodiak College.
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