We had a wonderful visit from EPA Administrator, Michael S. Regan and his staff at the end of last month. Students drummed and danced for the visitors, and Tami Fordham, Alaska Operations Office Director, and Dan Opalski, Director for Region X Water Division, even joined in for the invitational dance. Students, including Kenneth Soolook, Ronald Kippi-Kingik, and Annie Saganna, asked insightful questions, and the Administrator presented all the attending students with a commemorative coin. Thanks to everyone involved for the lovely visit!

Read more about the EPA's visit to Utqiaġvik here in the Arctic Sounder:

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Fall semester is in full swing here at Iḷisaġvik! A math class is required for most associate degrees, but our Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Jerry Ogden, makes it fun and unintimidating, and our Accuplacer tests will make sure you always start with the right math class for you.

Iḷisaġvik students and staff exercised one of our most cherished Iñupiat values, Piqpakkutiqaġniq Suli Qiksiksrautiqaġniq Utuqqanaanun Allanullu- Love and Respect for Our Elders and One Another, when we were invited to host a lunch potluck at the Senior Center in Utqiaġvik.

In the tribal education field, our utuqqanaaq is our most valued resource. Niqipiaq along with other dishes were served and our dorm residents provided entertainment with traditional song and dance. Quyanaqpak Senior Center for allowing us to serve our elders and community!

Read more about the Senior Center visit here in the Arctic Sounder:

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This fall, we had a board retreat in Homer with a great workshop, meeting and fishing!

To kick off our 2023 fall semester, Iñupiaq Studies Coordinator, Natasha Eqaġiñ Itta and Assistant Professor of Iñupiaq Studies, Jerica Niayuq Leavitt, led a panel discussion on Iñupiaq Language and what tribal education means. Iḷisaġvigmiut was humbled to have the NSB Mayor Harry K. Brower, Jr. open the session with words of wisdom and a prayer. The panel consisted of elders, Molly Kakianaaq Pederson, Martha Ikayuaq Stackhouse, Elsie Qaiyauraq Itta, Etta Pakak Fournier and Samantha Palaŋan Leavitt whom we were so grateful to hear first-hand. They each discussed their experiences surrounding the Iñupiat culture, language, values, and traditions and how this connects to education.

Quyanaqpak to our elders and former Iḷisaurri who took time to be with our staff and faculty, as we begin the new semester!

Since the start of the Fall Semester, we have been lucky to have Paul Rama as our new Assistant Professor of English!

Paul is from Fiji, though he hails from the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, where he was raised since the age of two. The richness of the islands, from the sandy shores, roaring ocean waves, and majestic mountain ranges, are mirrored in the diversity of cultures, languages, and people that make up his island home. Combined, these have had a profound effect on Paul’s upbringing, leading to his exceeding curiosity to explore the world beyond his familiar shores, diving deep into the cultures and communities that make each corner of the globe unique. In his downtime, Paul enjoys reading, writing, sports, digital games, streaming shows, and listening to and making music.

Professional:

Paul Rama has years of experience working with international students and training future TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) professionals. Paul has a Ph.D. from the School of Education at UC Irvine, where his research centered on the affordances of new information and communication technologies for teaching and learning. Paul has a wide range of teaching experience, from public to private schools and at all levels, from kindergarten to university. He is a globally-minded academic who believes in the vision of Iḷisaġvik College. 

Quyarugut savaqatigivlutin!

We are grateful to have you as a co-worker!