AlaskaX: Yup'ik Language and Culture

Ilargakut! This introductory course guides students through the Yugtun language, spoken by the Yup’ik people, with a focus on cultural traditions, indigenous language revitalization, and connection to the land. Learn communication skills, build your knowledge of Yugtun, and appreciate the cultural values that underpin Yugtun and Yup’ik culture in this online learning language program.

There are over 21 different languages spoken by Indigenous communities in and around Alaska. Yugtun is an Indigenous language spoken by the Yup’ik/Yupiaq people, primarily in the southwestern region of Alaska and in eastern Siberian Russia. While it is the most widely spoken Alaska Native language, the number of fluent and native speakers has declined, making it an endangered language. This online course, which focuses specifically on the Central Yup’ik dialect of the lower Kuskokwim Delta, is a unique language learning opportunity, and part of a broader language revitalization, language education, and celebration process.

This online language course begins with an exploration of the fundamental aspects of the language, delving into its deep connections with Yup'ik customs and ways of life. Engaging lessons and interactive exercises will guide language learners through the linguistic structure of Central Yugtun. Learners will construct simple phrases and sentences, ask and answer questions, respond to commands, and make requests. Just as crucial as learning vocabulary and grammar, each module introduces you to different aspects of Yup’ik culture and explores the intricate interplay between language and culture. Enrollment in this course provides not just language instruction and language proficiency, but also the opportunity to hear stories, told in Yugtun, and learn about the Yup’ik cultural values that influence how Yugtun is spoken.

Enroll in this course and become a part of celebrating, revitalizing, and sustaining Yugtun and Yup’ik culture! Quyana!