Trust – Iñupiaq Language Specialist

Job Description

About Aqqaluk Trust Aqqaluk Trust is a 501(c)(3) non‑profit private foundation. The Aqqaluk Trust was founded in 1989 in honor of Robert Aqqaluk Newlin, Sr., one of the great Iñupiat leaders. The foundation first provided scholarship funding for eligible applicants seeking training or pursuing their secondary education. Since its inception, Aqqaluk Trust has grown and now provides more Iñupiaq language and cultural resources.

Aqqaluk Trust currently focuses on three major areas: the language, culture, and education of the Iñupiat people of northwest Alaska.

Iñupiaq Language Specialists will be essential to carrying out the work of Aqqaluk Trust’s federal ANA grant, “Uqapiaqta Program Development.” The Iñupiaq Language Specialists will work in a team with the Project Director and Multimedia Specialist to video elders speaking Iñupiaq, then support the Project Director to build adult immersion curriculum from the videos. Travel will be required to NANA region communities to work with Iñupiaq speakers in their home villages.

This is a ¼ time position (300 hours/year in year 1 of the grant, 500 hours/year in years 2 and 3), with a negotiable work schedule. This position is Alaska‑based, Kotzebue‑preferred. We will be hiring 3 individuals under this job announcement.

• Help the project team build and maintain relationships with Iñupiaq language speakers
• Travel with the project team to NANA region communities to work with elders
• Use Iñupiaq language abilities to talk with and interview elder language speakers
• Assist Project Director to understand Iñupiaq recordings and identify vocabulary words
• Assist Project Director and Multimedia Specialist to develop curriculum for Aqqaluk Trust’s adult Iñupiaq immersion program

• Ability to understand fluent Iñupiaq
• Ability to speak Iñupiaq clearly and accurately, in full sentences (speaking fluency preferred but not required)
• Ability to read and write Iñupiaq preferred
• Experience teaching Iñupiaq and developing curriculum preferred

• Knowledge of the Iñupiat Iḷitqusiat and Iñupiaq cultural wisdom
• Loving, caring, supportive attitude toward Iñupiaq language learners
• Communicates ahead of time about availability and work schedules
• Strong personal relationships with Iñupiaq speakers in the NANA region
• Passion for advancing Iñupiaq language revitalization

Weather:
Work will be both indoors and outdoors. Applicant should be prepared to spend time outdoors in varied weather conditions.

Noise level:
Quiet to Moderate, with occasional exposure to Loud noise (boats, snow machines, equipment).

Environment:
Work environments will be varied, including in the office, in people’s homes, and outdoors in communities or door work may be in both summer and winter.

Travel:
Travel to Kotzebue and NANA region villages will be required to work with speakers in their home villages. Travel to remote camps may be required on occasion. Applicant must be prepared to travel by varied methods including airplane and boat.

Physical requirements:

Able to sit, stand, and walk short distances with limited or no assistance. Ability to use one or both hands and arms. Able to hear and speak clearly.

The above is not intended to list all possible essential functions or requirements as they are subject to change. Aqqaluk Trust reserves the right to revise or change this description. This description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each of the above essential duties and meet the physical requirements of the job.

Aqqaluk