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October 18, 2004                                                          

SEALASKA HERITAGE RECEIVES AWARD FOR LANGUAGE PROGRAM

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is one of two organizations to receive the Governor’s Humanities Distinguished Cultural Service Award this year for its Native language program.

The award recognizes organizations for making significant contributions to the cultural heritage in Alaska through their efforts in revitalization of Alaska Native languages, according to the Alaska Humanities Forum, which sponsors the program with the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

The institute operates numerous workshops and other projects in Southeast Alaska to perpetuate Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian.

“Language revitalization is a top priority of Sealaska Heritage Institute, so it’s an honor to be recognized for our efforts to perpetuate our Native languages,” said SHI President Dr. Rosita Worl, noting 2004 was a pivotal year because the institute’s language students for the first time were able to teach Tlingit to others during SHI’s summer language workshops.

“I think we have now trained a whole new generation of Tlingit teachers, and we’re ready to send them out into the world,” Worl said.

The awards will be presented to SHI language staff Keri Edwards and David Katzeek by Gov. Frank Murkowski at 6 p.m., Oct. 29, at the 4th Avenue Theater in Anchorage. To view the entire list of award recipients see http://www.akhf.org/.

Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private, nonprofit founded in 1981 to administer cultural and educational programs for Sealaska Corp. The institute is governed by an all-Native board of trustees. Its mission is to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska.

CONTACT:  Rosita Worl, SHI president, 907-463-4844