Children and adults who want to learn how to converse in the Denaakk’e (Koyukon) language have a new opportunity: a brand new Doyon Languages Online course based on the work of the late Agnes Moore.
Baasee’ to Agnes’ family for their permission to share her lessons through Doyon Languages Online.
These Denaakk’e lessons are the latest offerings of Doyon Languages Online, a project to increase the number of people who can speak the endangered Native languages of the Doyon region. Doyon Languages Online courses are available for free to all interested learners, who can sign up at doyonfoundation.com/dlo.
About the Course
These online Upper Koyukon language lessons are the result of a partnership between Doyon Foundation, Transparent Language and the nonprofit 7000 Languages. The lessons are based on Agnes’ work, originally published in 1992 with support from the Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Yukon Native Language Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon. Agnes translated the lessons into Upper Koyukon, and they were proofread by James Kari and Eliza Jones.
The course is designed for both children and adults who want to learn how to converse in Koyukon. These lessons are arranged in a seasonal activity format, September through June, but learners are free to access the material they are most interested in rather than follow a strict order.
Agnes’ family hopes that these lessons will be enjoyed by all those interested in learning to speak and understand the ancestral language of the Upper Koyukon people of Tanana, Alaska.
About the Language
The upstream dialect of the Koyukon (Denaakk’e) language is referred to as Upper Koyukon. This language was historically spoken by people in the communities of Tanana, Rampart and Stevens Village.
About the Author
Agnes Moore was born at Mission Creek above Tanana on April 13, 1922. She lived in Rampart and Fairbanks. She was the youngest of 16 children born to Chief Daniel and Cecelia Moses Matthew.
In her early days, Agnes was raised in the traditional Athabascan lifestyle of living off the land. She taught the Athabascan language for many years at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She also worked for the Tanana Chiefs Conference agriculture program and volunteered at Fairbanks Native Association Head Start.
Agnes enjoyed sewing, singing church songs, Native singing and dancing, and berry picking.
She loved to ride with her son, Will Mayo, on his Harley-Davidson Electra Glide. She also enjoyed listening to her son, Ron Mayo, play the harmonica and guitar for the residents where she lived at the Pioneers’ Home. Devoted to the Lord, Agnes encouraged others to follow in his path, and she also encouraged sobriety. She fell in love with every child she met.
Baasee’, Thank You
Doyon Foundation would like to say baasee’ to James Kari, John Ritter, the Alaska Native Language Center, the Yukon Native Language Centre, Transparent Language, 7000 Languages and Doyon, Limited for their support.
We also extend gratitude to Agnes and all of our Elders, past and present, for teaching us our language and culture.
This online course was funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Alaska Native Educational Program, award # S356A220042.
About 7000 Languages
7000 Languages empowers communities around the world to teach, learn and sustain their endangered languages. They are a 501(c)(3) public charity whose vision is one where all communities have the resources and opportunities to reclaim, strengthen and revitalize their languages.
About Doyon Languages Online
Doyon Foundation continues to expand the number of courses available through Doyon Languages Online. Current course offerings include:
- Benhti Kokhut’ana Kenaga’ (Lower Tanana) (Doyon Languages Online course, plus online course based on the work of the late Ellen Frank)
- Deg Xinag
- Denaakk’e (Koyukon) (Doyon Languages Online course, plus online course based on the work of Agnes Moore)
- Dihthaad Xt’een Iin Aanděeg’ (Tanacross) (Doyon Languages Online course, plus online course based on the work of Irene Arnold)
- Dinak’i (Upper Kuskokwim)
- Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa (Gwich’in)
- Doogh Qinag (Holikachuk)
- Hän (Doyon Languages Online course, plus special memorial course based on the work of the late Isaac Juneby)
- Iñupiaq (based on the work of Lorena Williams and Larry Kaplan)
- Nee’aanèegn’ (Upper Tanana) (Doyon Languages Online course, plus online course based on the work of Avis Sam)
Doyon Languages Online courses are available for free to all interested learners. Students can sign up and access the courses from a desktop or laptop computer, or via the Transparent Language app available for both Apple and Android mobile devices and tablets.
For more information on the Doyon Languages Online, please visit doyonfoundation.com/dlo or contact 907.459.2048 or foundation@doyon.com. For assistance signing up for or using Doyon Languages Online, view the instructional video series on YouTube.