Ilakucaraq means "being together" in Yugtun, the language of the Yup'ik people of Southwest Alaska.
(Pronounced: Ee-la-cou-jaw-ga-ck)Ilakucaraq was a partnership between the Alaska Humanities Forum, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, and Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
From 2021-2024, Ilakucaraq served 443 Alaska Native youth from all 12 ANCSA regions through the Alaska Humanities Forum’s youth programs and 208 Alaska school professionals through the Alaska Native Heritage Center’s Indigenous Awareness and Culturally Responsive Teaching courses.
This program is not currently active, but you can
- Check out other youth programs offered by the Forum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
- Use Ilakucaraq resources to bring identity-exploration activities into your classroom or youth program.
Ilakucaraq youth participants developed a strong sense of self and built confidence in their cultural identities. The program drew on research that indicates building and sustaining a positive identity – in combination with rigorous academic preparation and providing guidance on postsecondary navigation – is a critical and rarely addressed need in postsecondary access and completion programming.
My cultural heritage really aligns with my goals: it kinda shaped me into who I am today to be caring and to be a future leader.
Ilakucaraq year-long cohorts connected urban and rural Native youth to learn about themselves, share their cultures, and form a supportive peer-network. Cohorts traveled to Anchorage or Juneau for a week during their first summer, stayed connected through virtual sessions throughout the school year, and went on a second week-long trip to a rural Alaska community the following summer (Bethel, Dillingham, Kenai, Kodiak, Kotzebue, or Utqiagvik). Culture bearers and community members worked with youth on all the trips.
[My understanding of Alaska Native cultures and communities is] different now because I've been able to see what the culture means to different people. Alaska Native culture is so much more diverse and important to me than it was before.
Ilakucaraq school visits brought identity exploration and reflection programs into classrooms. Community members also participated, shared stories, and led cultural activities with students.
I learned that a lot of us have so much in common, and I learned that it’s okay to have time to yourself, or being patient with the world and not forcing anything to happen.
Ilakucaraq Activity Guides
Use these resources to explore identity and values with 6-12th grade youth in classrooms, after school or summer programs, postsecondary advising, or other settings.
Teachers that reviewed this curriculum noted that adults leading these activities need to do so in culturally-affirming ways: with awareness of their own cultures, their students’ cultures, and how their upbringings shape their values and assumptions around postsecondary choices. Before using these activities, adults should be prepared to:
- Share about their own identities and values with youth
- Deepen trust between adults and youth and among youth (if not done well, pre-existing trust can be lost)
- Lead discussions around race, culture, identity, and values
- Help students access mental health resources if they need them
- Invite Culture Bearers, community members, and other adults to participate and offer different perspectives
The Forum would love to hear how these resources are used. Email adale@akhf.org to share how the activities went. Teachers may also be interested in the Forum’s C3: Creating Cultural Competence program. If you would like support in doing the foundational cultural competency work before using these activities, email jrowland@akhf.org.
How do values shape decisions?
Considering postsecondary decisions activity for grades 10-12. Four 45 minute sessions.
The Ilakucaraq Project was funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Alaska Native Education Program.
