Anna Clock, a participant in our Doyon Languages Online teacher training, formed a learning group with her brother, William, who is using Doyon Languages Online to learn Denaakk'e. Recently, Anna shared with us about their experience teaching and learning via distance – Anna at her home in Anchorage, and William working on his tug boat on the Cook Inlet. Follow their journey – and if you are teaching or learning a language using Doyon Languages Online, we would love to hear your story as well! Read more.

Mary Jane Fate was a visionary leader and influential advocate who dedicated her life to creating opportunities for Alaska Native people. We are honored to have a scholarship in her name: The Mary Jane and Hugh Fate, Jr. Leadership Fund was established by their daughter, Jennifer Fate, in 2017 to honor her parents’ accomplishments for the betterment of the Doyon people. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mary Jane’s husband, Hugh “Bud” Fate, and her daughter, our board president, Jennifer, as well as all of her family and friends. Read more.

Keeping everyone safe and healthy is top of mind for all of us at Doyon Foundation these days as we all face the COVID-19 pandemic together. We've worked with our terrific group of language speakers to develop a series of helpful translations in our Native languages. Watch our blog, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for daily posts - and if you have other translations, please share by commenting!

December 9, 2019, marks the 30th anniversary of Doyon Foundation! Over the coming year, we will be celebrating our 30 years of providing educational, career and cultural opportunities to enhance the identity and quality of life for Doyon shareholders.

Join us in commemorating this milestone by sharing a story, photo or video about how the Foundation has touched your life on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. Be sure to tag #DF30 so we can see it! Take the survey.

Are you Doyon Foundation alumni? If you’ve received a Doyon Foundation scholarship in the past, we want to hear from you! Please take a couple minutes to complete our short alumni survey. Take the survey.

There is currently a shortage of teachers working among the 10 Indigenous languages of the Doyon region, with only a handful of those languages being actively taught by dedicated teachers. A recent Doyon Foundation language gathering focused on sharing resources for language teachers and recruiting and preparing future language teachers for Doyon region languages. There was also lots of good food, laughter and singing. Read More.

We are pleased to share our highlights from 2019! Learn about our work in the areas of scholarships and language revitalization, view our 2019 scholarship recipients and graduates, and find ways to get involved. Read Report.

Doyon Foundation held its board of directors election at its annual membership meeting on November 15 in Fairbanks. At that time, the board also voted to increase the number of board seats from seven to nine. Read More.

With Doyon Languages Online courses now available, we wanted to provide some helpful tips to all you language learners! Check out this short instructional video series on how to sign up for Doyon Languages Online (for free!), how to add and use the courses, and how to take advantage of some of the software features. Watch the video.

It’s the New Year, which also means it’s time to apply for your PFD and Pick. Click. Give! We thank everyone who has made a Pick. Click. Give. contribution to Doyon Foundation in the past, and we invite everyone to consider making a pledge when you apply for your 2020 PFD. Learn more . Give Now.

With no fluent speakers remaining, development of the Holikachuk language-learning course was perhaps the most challenging – and one of the most important – efforts of Doyon Foundation’s Doyon Languages Online project. Released today, Holikachuk is the fourth course release for Doyon Languages Online, which is creating introductory online lessons for nine of the 10 endangered Doyon region languages. The online Holikachuk course, as well as previously released courses in Gwich’in, Denaakk’e and Benhti Kenaga’, is now available at no charge to all interested language learners. Learn more or Sign up.

Doyon Foundation today released the third course in its Doyon Languages Online project, which is creating introductory online lessons for nine of the 10 endangered Doyon region languages. The Denaakk’e course joins the previously released Benhti Kenaga’ and Gwich’in courses. All three courses are now available at no charge to all interested language learners through the Doyon Foundation website.

Learn more or Sign up.

Doyon Foundation released the second course in its Doyon Languages Online project today: Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa, or Gwich'in, one of the 10 endangered languages of the Doyon region. The Gwich’in course joins the previously released Benhti Kenaga’ course. Both online courses are now available at no charge to all interested language learners through the Doyon Foundation website. Learn more or Sign up.

Doyon Foundation officially launched its Doyon Languages Online project today with the release of a language-learning course for Benhti Kenaga’, one of the 10 endangered languages of the Doyon region. The online course is now available at no charge to all interested language learners. Learn more or Sign up.

On Friday, June 21, after three years of dedicated efforts, Doyon Foundation will officially launch its Doyon Languages Online project with the release of the first online language-learning course featuring Benhti Kenaga’, one of the 10 endangered languages of the Doyon region. Over the next two weeks, the Foundation will release three additional courses: Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa (Gwich’in), Denaakk’e (Koyukon) and Holikachuk. All courses will be available at no charge to all interested language learners.

There are more ways than ever to stay connected with Doyon Foundation! We’ve recently expanded our online presence to include Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, as well as Facebook. We invite you to choose your favorite platforms and follow us to get the latest info on scholarship deadlines, language revitalization news, volunteer opportunities, grant applications, events and more! Connect with us

Lessons offer preview of Doyon Languages Online project

Lessons created by the late Isaac Juneby to share the endangered Hän language are getting new life through a partnership with Doyon Foundation, Transparent Languages and its nonprofit 7000 Languages, and support of Juneby’s family and community. Juneby’s lessons are now accessible online, for free, to all interested learners through the Doyon Languages Online project. Read more.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Doyon Foundation scholarships – from scholarship types to eligibility to the application process – is detailed in our new, one-stop scholarship resource handbook! Read more.

Click here here to see and hear the Native words and phrases of the month. Both written and audio translations are provided.

“My late mother and her sisters would speak Denaakk’e and giggle; they had a bond through the language and I wanted to share the joke but I didn’t learn the language except for a few words,” shares Bev Kokrine. Now, as one of the content creators with our Doyon Languages Online project, Bev is helping create online lessons that will teach the language to any interested learner. “I hope someday we’ll hear more youth speaking Denaakk’e. They’ll know their culture and heritage if we teach them their Native language now.” Read more.

Doyon Foundation student Buddy North attends Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City where he’s at work on a doctorate in philosophy and education. “I want to inspire students to excel at education to become Elders, experts, leaders and teachers. My professional goals hinge on giving back to our community and to others. By devoting my life to learning, sharing the love of wisdom, and working toward a healthier society, I hope to be a positive role model,” he says. Hear more from Buddy in our latest student profile. Read more

A graduate of Stanford University and Arizona State University, Tanya was named regulatory affairs director for Doyon Utilities in 2015. Tanya received the Foundation’s basic scholarship as well as the Morris Thompson competitive scholarship. “Doyon Foundation helped me advance my education not only with financial support but with encouragement," she says. Read more.

Each month, Doyon Foundation profiles a different student or alumnus. If you are interested in being highlighted in a student profile, please click here to complete a short questionnaire. To complete the alumnus profile questionnaire, please click here. Thank you for your participation!