Friday Focus: Being a leader in Indigenizing the Academy
Charlene Stern is the vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education.
— By Charlene Stern, vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education
With the recent celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Oct. 10 across UAF’s campuses, I could not help but reflect upon the journey that has brought us to where we are on the pathway to our goal of becoming a global leader in Alaska Native and Indigenous Studies.
A distinguishing aspect of UAF is the position of vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education, which has a long and established history within UAF’s administrative and academic structure. The VCRCNE is not only a critical leadership position for Indigenous affairs but also oversees the two colleges and five rural campuses that play a pivotal role in fulfilling the community college mission of UAF. Having such a leadership position within the chancellor’s core cabinet has been instrumental in UAF’s ability to meet the diversity of educational needs across our vast state.
Another unique feature of UAF is the Alaska Native Language Center, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary since its establishment in 1972 by state legislation. The event included a keynote by Dr. Edna Ahgeak MacLean who, in 1976, was hired to develop and teach some of the first Iñupiaq language courses at UAF. In honor of this impressive milestone, ANLC partnered with Channel Films to produce the video “Awake” which showcases the past, present and future efforts of ANLC to support the documentation and revitalization of Alaska’s Indigenous languages.
Perhaps one of the most exciting initiatives that lies ahead is the construction of the Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center on the West Ridge of campus. Upon receiving formal project approval by the Board of Regents in June 2022, our team has been busy working with consultants to finalize the schematic design of the one-of-a-kind facility. Named in the Lower Tanana Athabascan dialect for the ridge that the UAF campus now resides, Troth Yeddha’ will serve as an innovative hub for academic, research and student support programs that places Indigenous cultures and knowledge at the heart of UAF. To learn more visit, https://www.uaf.edu/trothyeddha/.
As we look forward to Native American Heritage Month in November, I encourage the UAF community to join us in celebrating the diversity and uniqueness that makes our university a place of belonging for all.
Friday Focus is written by a different member of UAF’s leadership team every week.