DEADLINE EXTENDED to Friday, February 15, 2019

In a continuing effort to revitalize the endangered Native languages of the Doyon region, Doyon Foundation will award grants of up to $5,000 to support language revitalization efforts. The application deadline for the 2019 Our Language grants has been extended to Friday, February 15, 2019, at 5 p.m. 

Download the 2019 Our Language grant application

Download and share grant informational flyer

Doyon region tribal governments/tribal councils/communities; nonprofit Alaska Native organizations, societies and community groups; and Alaska Native cultural, educational and recreational organizations/centers are eligible to apply for an Our Language grant.

Grant proposals must include a project description and timeline; plan for language documentation; project budget; completed community language survey; letter of support from village council or tribal office; and community language plan (optional).

The 10 ancestral languages of the Doyon region are all severely to critically endangered, and will be lost within the span of a few generations if no action is taken. These endangered languages include Nee’aanèegn’ (Upper Tanana), Dihthaad Xt’een Iin Aanděeg’ (Tanacross), Hän, Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa (Gwich’in), Dinak’i (Upper Kuskokwim), Denaakk’e (Koyukon), Deg Xinag, Benhti Kokhut’ana Kenaga (Lower Tanana), Holikachuk, and Inupiaq.

Doyon, Limited established the language grant program in 2012, and the Doyon Foundation language revitalization program now manages the grant program. Last year, the Foundation awarded nine grants totaling $64,000 to support projects including professional development, radio broadcasts, teacher training, audio and video lesson development, language immersion activities, culture camps, and lesson plan development. Read more about the 2018 grant recipients on the Foundation blog.

“The goal of the Our Language grant program is to support efforts to revitalize the endangered languages of the Doyon region. We are honored to support awardees as they bring their language projects to life,” said Allan Hayton, director of the Foundation’s language revitalization program.

An application packet, with complete details and instructions, is available here. For additional information, contact Jennifer Mayo-Shannon at 907.459.2074 or mayo-shannonj@doyon.com.