Tlingit and Haida gets nearly $800,000 language program grant
The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is among 20 tribes and tribal organizations receiving a total of $5.723 million in federal Living Languages Grant Program funding, with individual awards ranging in value from $200,000 to $300,000 per year for three years, according to the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development.
Tlingit and Haida will receive $265,920 per year, according to the agency. Also receiving funds in Alaska is the Tribal Government of St. Paul Island, with $277,500 per year.
The Living Languages Grant Program provides an opportunity for Tribes to receive funding to document and revitalize languages that are at risk of disappearing because of a declining native-speaker population, a press release by the agency notes. For more than 150 years, Native languages in the U.S. have been subjected to suppression and elimination from a variety of factors such as federal boarding and other types of schools that forced American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children to forgo speaking the language of their peoples.
“Living Languages Grant Program funding supports Tribal communities in restoring and revitalizing their traditional languages, thereby preserving the essence of their cultural identities and sovereignty,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. “Investing in Native language revitalization is just one part of our all-of-government approach to addressing the harms caused by federal policies of the past, such as Federal Indian Boarding School which actively worked to suppress Native languages and cultures.”
The Living Languages Grant Program’s focus for fiscal year 2024 is on Native language immersion projects that support a cohesive Tribal community-approach through collaborative instruction based on current language immersion models. This year’s funding is intended for projects that provide an “all-of-community” language program with measurable outcomes which will be achieved within three years.
Holiday Schedule for CBJ Offices & Facilities
Most City and Borough of Juneau offices and facilities — including City Hall offices, Dimond Park Aquatic Center, Zach Gordon Youth Center, the Juneau Douglas City Museum, and all Juneau Public Library branches — will be closed Monday, Dec. 25, and Monday, Jan. 1, in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.
Here’s a rundown of other services and facilities that have different operating schedules during the holidays:
Capital Transit & CAPITAL AKcess
Capital Transit and CAPITAL AKcess will operate on regular Sunday hours on Sunday, Dec. 24, and Sunday, Dec. 31, and will not be in service on Monday, Dec. 25, and Monday, Jan. 1. For route maps and timetables, visit juneaucapitaltransit.org.
Dimond Park Field House
The Dimond Park Field House track will be closed Sunday, Dec. 24, Monday, Dec. 25, and Monday, Jan. 1. The track will be open on Sunday, Dec. 31, for public track time from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. As a reminder, Turf for Tots will not be held from Dec. 25 through Jan. 1 while DPFH hosts the annual Holiday Cup soccer tournament. See the calendar for full hours.
Jensen-Olson Arboretum
Jensen-Olson Arboretum is closed to the public through Dec. 28 and will reopen on Friday, Dec. 29, for winter hours, Friday – Sunday (including Sunday, Dec. 31) from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Eaglecrest Ski Area
Eaglecrest will be closed Monday, Dec. 25, and Monday, Jan. 1, but otherwise open daily throughout the holidays. Operations may be affected by weather conditions; for the latest information, see the Mountain Report at skieaglecrest.com.
Shéiyi X̱aat Hít Youth Shelter
Shéiyi X̱aat Hít Youth Shelter is open throughout the holidays.
Treadwell Arena
Treadwell Arena will be closed Sunday, Dec. 24, Monday, Dec. 25, and Monday, Jan. 1. Otherwise, Treadwell is offering a variety of public sessions over the holidays. Walk in or reserve your spot (see the “Treadwell Arena” tab) for a discount. See the online calendar for a full schedule.
Juneau Pools To Offer Lifeguard Class Jan. 2-5
Parks and Recreation Juneau Pools will offer a lifeguarding class on Jan. 2 – 5 at Dimond Park Aquatic Center. Participants who successfully complete the class will earn an American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification, valid for two years. Registration is now open and closes on Thursday, Dec. 28. Register online via the Parks and Rec registration catalog (under the Juneau Pools tab).
The class will run from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily.
Class fees are $250 for general participants, but free for those who submit an application for employment as a Juneau Pools lifeguard at the end of the course. The class is open to a maximum of 10 people.
Prerequisites: Complete a pre-course session in the pool prior to the first day of class. The pre-course includes a 300-yard swim, brick retrieval from 10 feet, and treading water for 2 minutes. Must be 15 years old by the last day of class.
For more information, contact Seth Cayce at (907) 586-0839 or seth.cayce@juneau.gov.
