KATIRVIK CULTURAL CENTER

KCC Language Advisory Committee

Purpose

The Language Advisory Committee provides guidance and recommendations to Katirvik Cultural Center (KCC) staff on language projects and initiatives. The committee provides translations, language expertise, and cultural guidance for language-related requests and projects throughout Kawerak.

Guiding Principle

The KCC Language Advisory Committee exists to ensure that Indigenous languages remain living, vibrant, and accessible for future generations. Bering Strait Language translations should be guided by fluent speakers, Elders, and cultural knowledge holders.

Committee Composition

The committee shall consist of six members:

• Two Inupiaq representatives
• Two Yup’ik representatives
• Two St. Lawrence Island Yupik representatives
• Preference will be given to those living in Nome

The committee should include a mix of:

• Fluent speakers with knowledge of spelling in the language
• Elders and cultural experts

Member Expectations

Committee members are expected to:

• Attend regularly committee meetings scheduled as needed.
• Participate actively in discussions and decision-making.
• Review materials prior to meetings when possible.
• Notify KCC staff if unable to attend.

Collaboration

• Work respectfully with members from all language groups.
• Support consensus-based decision making whenever possible.
• Maintain a positive and solutions-focused approach.
• Open to community dialects

Cultural Stewardship

• Uphold Indigenous cultural values and protocols.
• Respect community ownership of language knowledge.
• Support ethical documentation and use of language materials.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide translations for Kawerak as requested
• Review language materials for accuracy and appropriateness.
• Assist with answering language questions that arise during projects.

Terms of Service

• Members shall serve two-year terms, with the option for reappointment.
• KCC may appoint replacement members if vacancies occur.
• Members may resign at any time by notifying KCC staff.

Meeting Schedule

• The committee will meet as requested by KCC staff.
• Additional meetings may be called as needed for special projects.
• Meetings may occur in person or virtually.
• Specific language groups may be called to meet, for instance if a requests asks only for Yup’ik translations, only the Yup’ik translators will be notified to meet.

Compensation

Members will be financially compensated for meeting participation.

How to Apply

You can apply online by visiting Katirvik Cultural Center Language Advisory Committee Application – Fill out form.

If you would like a paper copy, please call Kiminaq at 907-443-4343, or email her at [email protected].

Deadline to apply is November 18.

Website

Katirvik Cultural Center also has its own website! Visit it at https://katirvik.org.

Location & Hours

Address: Richard Foster Building, 100 West 7th Avenue Nome AK 99762.

Hours: Starting July 7, the Katirvik Cultural Center is open to the public Wednesday through Friday 12pm-4pm. You can also call 443-4340 to arrange a private tour.

Katirvik Cultural Center rents museum space in the City of Nome’s Richard Foster Building – named after Alaska Native leader Richard Foster, who represented the Bering Strait Region in the state legislature for over 20 years. Along with the Katirvik Cultural Center, the Richard Foster Building houses Nome’s Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum and the Kegoayah Kozga Library.

The Katirvik Cultural Center began as a vision shared among elders in the region to celebrate, educate and share the rich culture and heritage of the Bering Strait. Through the passion and dedication to realize this project from Kawerak Inc and generous support from local, regional and national organizations the Katirvik Cultural Center became a reality in October 2016.

Mission

To preserve, celebrate, share and educate about the unique Indigenous knowledge and cultures of the Bering Strait Region of Alaska. The Center strives to inspire cooperative dialogue and improve cultural awareness in its communities and visitors through programs in the arts, sciences and the humanities.

Goals

1. Sustain living languages through public, school and community programming
2. Be a place for community ceremony and celebration
3. Identify and provide stewardship of cultural resources through collection, curation and display
4. Be a space for communal sharing and gathering of Alaska Native knowledge

What’s in the Name

The people of the Bering Strait Region were invited to participate in the naming of our new cultural center. After the region wide vote, Katirvik surfaced as the top name choice. Katirvik can be translated to Inupiaq, Siberian Yupik and Central Yupik, meaning “Gathering Place”.  The name Katirvik embodies the intent of the center, to bring together not only people, but cultural events, language sharing opportunities, constructive social justice dialogue and artifacts from traditional lifestyles while celebrating and honoring the region and its people. Appropriately the most unique, important and defining feature of the cultural center is the central circular space, designed to emulate the look and feel of the traditional gathering place, the qasgi/qasrgi.

Knowledge Repatriation and Access

The cultural center project will improve access to the heritage resources of the entire region through curation, educational programming, community ceremony, traveling exhibits, visiting artists and visiting researchers.

Cultural Themes

Katrivik Cultural Center hosts displays to represent four themes that embody certain aspects of the region’s culture to the Inupiaq, Central Yupik and St. Lawrence Island peoples.

These themes emerged from a long collaborative effort of the Cultural Planners from around the region. Different items will be on display to represent the themes, through the years.

CURRENT THEMES 

Theme One:  Our relationship with the land and sea is our lifeline.

St. Lawrence Island Yupik:  Igleghneghput, kiyaghtaalleghput, kelliikun, nunakun ayuguq.

Inupiaq:  Inusigut nunami aasinlu tagiumi.

Central Yupik:  Wangkuta yuyaraaput nunaq imarpik ilaklluki.

Theme Two:  To hunt for game on the sea or land while respecting the spirit of the animal.

 St. Lawrence Island Yupik:  Unangniinemta quutmi, kelliini, teghikusat yaayasitkesaghqaan’ghitut, amyuutkesaghqaan’ghitut. 

Inupiaq:  Anuniaqtuat tagiumi suli nunami piaqsraŋni naguatun piŋnaktuat inułiq. 

Central Yupik:  Pisuraqamta pitakarput anaganagai takaqlluki.

Theme Three:  We work together to thrive.

St. Lawrence Island Yupik:  Ataasiiluta qepghaannemta, allgeghutaqukut  uglaghngaan. 

Inupiaq: Igayatigiikłuta sawiłuta inuuruut.

Central Yupik:  Ikaayuqlluta calista yuucim tungiinum. 

Theme Four:  Our journey is to teach our children through the knowledge of our Elders.

St. Lawrence Island Yupik:  Whaten aneghneghput, whangkuta siivanlleghni, apeghtughnaluki, taghnughhaput, eltughaput, agavek kingunemnnun.  

Inupiaq:   Talugilugit utuqunaat ayuqatuutilugit nutaat inuusugut iglailiuqtuq naguatun.

Central Yupik:  Yuullimteni mikelnguput liicarluki timrrtat picigiagaitnak. 

Make a Donation: 

To make a financial Donation, please visit https://kawerak.org/donate/ and note Katirvik Cultural Center in the comments.

If you have artifacts or art you would like to donate, please contact Katirvik Cultural Center at 907-443-4340 or [email protected] and fill our our KCC Gift Deed Form.