Published June 4, 1998

David Boxley (right) leads a song with his drum for Seattle's Tsimshian Kaayuuk dance group as Celebration '98 participants gather at Centennial Hall this morning before the Grand Entrance.MICHAEL PENN / THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Celebration '98 organizers say that's the reason they chose "Our Language" as the theme for this year's celebration of Native culture, dance and song.

"Our feeling is that this time in history is critical," said Ted Wright, executive director of Sealaska Heritage Foundation, which organizes the biennial event."If the languages are to be revived, it will have to be in the next few years. It's almost too late, and we're trying to do what we can before it is too late."

Celebration '98 participants kicked off the event this morning with a parade from the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall to Centennial Hall. Song and dance performances by more than 40 groups from around Southeast Alaska, Canada and the Pacific Northwest, plus other events, continue through Saturday. Most of the songs and many of the speeches are in Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian or other Native languages.

Wright said there are only a handful of people under 50 who speak Native languages in Southeast Alaska, and the generation of elders who are the most fluent speakers is passing on. Wright said language is now the main focus of the heritage foundation's efforts.

"American Indian languages are dying out, and a lot of the younger people are not speaking the language," said Andrew Ebona, the Celebration '98 coordinator."It's very important to have discussions about the way we maintain our traditional languages."

Ebona said that while the focus of Celebration will continue to be dancing, singing, regalia and reunions, recognizing language as the theme highlights its cultural importance.

Ebona was born and raised in Juneau, and although his mother, Amy Nelson, speaks fluent Tlingit, he did not learn it growing up.

"I speak only a little Tlingit," he said."My mother speaks fluent Tlingit, she's 83. She is the clan mother of the Kiks.adi clan, the eldest female of the clan."

The heritage foundation and others are looking at alternative ways to teach language, Ebona said. He studied Tlingit last fall at a class taught by Juneau's Florence Sheakley, through the Tlingit and Haida Central Council. Sheakley's sister, Nora Dauenhauer, and her husband, Richard Dauenhauer, teach as well.

Twenty-year-old Hans Chester is a member of the younger generation of Alaska Natives who is actively pursuing his ancestral language. He has been studying Tlingit for two years with Sheakely at the University of Alaska Southeast, and said learning the culture goes hand-in-hand with the language.

"When she speaks in Tlingit, she explains things so people can understand," he said."She goes into depth, and gives it meaning. She doesn't just speak a phrase."

Chester said he doesn't belong to a dance group, but will attend and enjoy Celebration '98 as a spectator. He appreciates the recognition of the importance of language as the theme, as well as the recent efforts to perpetuate Native languages.

"I wish these language programs had been initiated a long time ago, and included in high school and middle school language classes," he said."I wish I had grown up speaking it."

Chester said he's learned from Sheakley that many words have already been lost, terms for carving techniques and for daily activities. Although he wishes efforts had been made years ago to preserve the languages, he realizes it was difficult.

"Our parents and grandparents had to do what was necessary to survive in the western world," he said.

The 1995 Juneau-Douglas High School graduate is a lifelong Juneau resident, and said his lineage is part Norwegian, part Alutiiq, and part Tlingit from Raven, Silver Salmon clan from the Yakutat area. He hopes to someday pass on the knowledge he is gaining.

"My goal is to teach, not only the language but the culture as well," he said."I'm happy to be a part of the preservation of the culture and language. It gives me a good feeling inside."