My name is Alex, and I am from Anchorage, Alaska. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at the University of Portland, in Portland, Oregon. I have now reached my sophomore year of the program and will begin going through clinicals next year.
I work as a language intern through the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, alongside Where Are Your Keys. Over the past month, I have worked on two different camps: one being the Unangam Tunuu Download Camp (UTDC), and the second being the Urban Unangax̂ Culture Camp. In both camps, I participated in both teaching and learning Eastern Aleut. I found this training to be extremely rewarding, as I now have the power not only to speak some of my language, but also to pass on what I know to others.
Since I am currently attending college out of my home state, I will not have access to people who speak my language. Adding on to that, once I begin clinicals I will not be returning to Alaska for at least 2 years. Over these next three years, I will have to figure out ways in which I can continue speaking my language in order not to lose it. Luckily, at the UTDC, I met two other learners who live nearby in Washington state, where I will be able to meet face to face and keep in contact with these two in order to continue learning and practicing my language.
Post authored by Alex.
