Anchorage Daily News: The Deep Value of Language in Preserving our Culture

Jessica Saniguq Ullrich | May 8, 2023 | Ascend Fellowship, Media Mentions

In her Anchorage Daily News op-ed , 2022 Ascend Fellow, Jessica Saniġaq Ullrich, shares the importance of preserving Indigenous languages as a way to uphold their Elders’ history, way of life, values, and relationships.

For five years, I have worked alongside other dedicated language learners to learn and preserve our language. But we must have intergenerational commitment to continue these efforts. We need to engage in language reclamation with our Elders, Elders in training, relatives, community members, young people, and allies. Every new expression that we learn adds a beautiful piece of our language back to our collective spirit. Everyone has a role to play on this learning journey. We can all commit to language learning, and funders can sponsor language preservation efforts. Our living language allows our soul to learn, experience recognition and can help us co-create a flourishing future.

Related Posts

We’ve selected four projects from the 2021 Class of Fellows that show impressive potential in both their scope and capacity to address timely issues. 
Ascend FellowshipMay 25, 2023
In an Inside Higher Ed article, David Croom and Generation Hope provide important perspective into why the student parent population is important for higher education institutions to prioritize.
Media MentionsMay 9, 2023
Text over a landscape of South Africa
Tiana C. McCoy – Senior Associate, Operations and Convenings at Ascend – provides an inside look at the experience of a Fellows Forum.
BlogMay 2, 2023
In a blog post authored by Trene Hawkins of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Ascend's Managing Director Marjorie Sims shares how Ascend harnesses parent and caregiver leaders’ expertise to create policy and systems change in communities and organizations.
Aspen Family Prosperity Innovation CommunityApril 6, 2023
In her Crain’s Detroit Business op-ed , 2022 Ascend Fellow, Leseliey Welch, discuss the importance of maternal health and midwifery care.
Media MentionsFebruary 28, 2023
In an article written by Jason DeParle for The New York Times, 2023 Ascend Parent Advisor, Brittnee Marsaw, shares her personal experiences being born to a teen mother and waiting to start her own family.
Media MentionsJanuary 3, 2023
In her HeraldNet op-ed, 2022 Ascend Fellow, Roxana Norouzi, discusses the important role that powerbuilding from community organizations has in election results.
Media MentionsJanuary 1, 2023
Magazine cover reading Kansas Child
In a recent article for Kansas Child Magazine, Ascend executive director and founder Anne Mosle discusses the how 2Gen approaches can build on family resilience to meet the moment for children and families.
Media MentionsOctober 19, 2022
In an op-ed written for Early Learning Nation, 2023 Ascend Parent Advisor, Mikah Jorgensen, shares her personal experience and expertise offering 5 ideas and recommendations for postsecondary institutions to make higher education more supportive of parenting students.
Media MentionsOctober 6, 2022
In an op-ed for Philanthropy News Digest, Ascend founder and executive director Anne Mosle highlights the power and potential in listening to and honoring the expertise of parents and caregivers.
Media MentionsAugust 22, 2022
Over the last 10 years, the Institute’s Ascend Fellowship has seen 120 leaders from across the United States join together to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Ascend FellowshipAugust 22, 2022
In a recent article on EdSurge.com, Ascend executive director and founder Anne Mosle discusses the tighter focus of the 2022 Ascend Fellowship class.
Media MentionsAugust 17, 2022
Today, the Aspen Institute announced its 2022 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows, 22 leaders from across the United States who are primed to transform systems so that our youngest children and families can thrive.
Ascend FellowshipAugust 8, 2022
In an article for Lumina Foundation's summer 2022 Focus magazine, Ascend's David Croom offers insight into the power of student parents' commitment to success for themselves and their families.
Media MentionsAugust 3, 2022
In an op-ed for amNY.com, Félix V. Matos Rodríguez shares insights and reflections on how higher ed can make a difference for families by supporting student parents.
Media MentionsJuly 29, 2022