Calista Education and Culture, Inc.

October 10, 2019

New Education Grant Aims to Teach Cultural Values and Increase Graduation Rates in the YK Delta
Take Wing “Tengluni” Project Prepares Students for Graduation and Post-Secondary Education

(Anchorage, Alaska)Calista Education and Culture, Inc. (CECI) has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Alaska Native Education Program. The new education grant serves 570 high school students in 14 schools throughout the Calista Region of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

The new grant funds the Take Wing “Tengluni” [DUHN-loo-nee] project. Take Wing “Tengluni” aims to increase high school graduation rates and postsecondary preparedness.

The project fosters traditional Yuuyaraq [YUU-yah-uk] values and teachings and provides formal mentoring to navigate the postsecondary education experience. Yuuyaraq translates in Yup’ik to “The Way of Being.”

The Take Wing “Tengluni” project was developed in collaboration with Alaska Humanities Forum and in consultation with the Kuspuk, Lower Kuskokwim and Yupiit School Districts. The project model includes on-site school seminars, skills training, and healthy and safe choice learning sessions. Most importantly the project weaves CECI’s Yuuyaraq curriculum throughout the student seminars and immersion experiences.

Take Wing “Tengluni” is Coming to a School Near You

The project begins this fall with a workshop at First Alaskans Institute Elders & Youth Conference on Monday, October 14 in Fairbanks. Yup’ik Elder and CECI Cultural Advisor Mark John and Yuuyaraq Instructor Jenine Heakin will conduct the workshop:

Always Strive for Our Future and Language – Pingnatuglainalta ernerpak Ciunerkamtenun cali-llu Qaneryaramtenun

The project team will travel in November and early December to four schools conducting two-day seminars and recruiting for the project’s four cohorts of Take Wing “Tengluni” Immersions.

Each Immersion cohort will have 25 high school juniors who will participate in three weeklong postsecondary Immersions. The students will explore career opportunities and learn soft skills and practical skills to navigate postsecondary systems while learning about Yuuyaraq. The fourth Immersion takes place in the students’ 12th grade year. They receive formal mentoring led by the project’s Mentorship Director.

The deadline to apply for Take Wing “Tengluni” Immersions, Cohorts I and II, is November 25, 2019.

Calista Education and Culture, Inc. (CECI) was established in 1980 as an Alaska Native-owned 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing educational scholarships to Calista Corporation Shareholders and Descendants. Visit CECI on Facebook @CalistaEducation.

Go to Alaska Humanities Forum to see more information and apply to the Take Wing “Tengluni” opportunity.