7000 Languages

Join us this month to explore the tales of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, a pivotal moment in our people's history. This year we celebrate the 150th year anniversary. Hear the stories of our ancestors, who stood with courage and wisdom against the forces led by General Custer. Learn the events that unfolded on that fateful day and how they continue to echo through our history.

Néá'ėšemeno

Today we celebrate Katie John Day. Katie John, a beloved Ahtna elder and culture bearer, was born in 1916 and lived most of her life in the northern Wrangell Mountains, an area now included within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. She passed on cultural, language and subsistence life skills and traditions to younger generations. She garnered national and international attention after a decades-long fight to reclaim fishing rights for her people. In 2019, Alaska Senate Bill 78 was signed into law and established May 31st as “Katie John Day.” In 2024, she was recognized by the U.S. Senate for strengthening subsistence rights in Alaska. Katie John passed in 2013, but her legacy lives on.

Rights
NPS Photo/ Barbara Cellarius
Alt Text: Katie John and former Superintendent Rick Obernesser shake hands during the Kendesnii dedication.

UNESCO IICBA is currently recruiting for two consultancy roles.

1. Education Project Liaison Officer (African Union Engagement)
An 11-month consultancy in Addis Ababa, supporting the Accelerated Learning Programme for out-of-school children alongside continental advocacy on second-chance education.
Deadline: Sunday, 7 June 2026 at 23:59 East Africa Time.

2. Facilitator of Learning in Teacher Development
An individual consultant to design and lead a six-month online workshop series for teacher educators, ministry officials, and teaching councils across the 19 GPE partner countries of the KIX Africa 19 Hub, running June to November 2026.
Deadline: Wednesday, 3 June 2026 at 23:59 East Africa Time.

Full Terms of Reference and how to apply: https://www.iicba.unesco.org/en/vacancies

“What does it mean to be truly ʼreadyʼ to teach in a Native language revitaIization movement?”

Register for next month’s Heart of the Movement discussion featuring our partners at AANIKOOBIJIGENG (connecting generations) National Native American Language Resource Center, and our board vice president Professor Twitchell:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_POkiI_lsS5OZY-RexFYPhw #/registration

Meet Scarlett “ᎩᎦᎨ” Guy (Gigage), one of the inaugural fellows of NIEA’s Emerging Native Language Leaders Fellowship.

A citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Gigage is a passionate advocate for Cherokee language revitalization and currently serves as an Adult Language Educator in the Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program. Through teaching, mentorship, and community engagement, she is helping strengthen and carry the Cherokee language forward for future generations.

“Because of the NIEA Emerging Native Language Leaders Fellowship, I have been able to learn from mentors who were once in the position I am in now. Their experiences and willingness to guide us through their own triumphs and challenges has helped me feel better equipped to continue head-on in my efforts to perpetuate the Cherokee language.”

Gigage shared that the fellowship has strengthened both her confidence and commitment as she continues her language journey alongside fellow emerging language leaders. ᎯᏗᏰᎵᏎᏍᏗᏊ!

Applications for the second fellowship cohort are now open through May 29.