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Book exploration

The students in Martha Demoski’s class do “book exploration” upon receiving new science books. This week, I had the privilege of traveling to Koyukuk, Nulato and Kaltag as part of the Yukon-Koyukuk School District’s professional development Performance Excellence for All Kids team to improve school achievement.

School phrases

goomaage — book

maahaa nek’edenledegee — pencil. Lit. “with it we write”

Soolaaleełtl’onh. — (You) listen to me.

Soolaaluhłtl’onh. — (All of you) listen to me.

Seneeł-’aanh. — (You) look at me.

Senuhł-’aanh. — (All of you) look at me.

Too kk’aat dest’aa. — I’m thirsty. (Implies “may I get a drink of water?”)

Kk’eł neeteghsoł. — I need to go to the bathroom. Lit. “I need to step off of the trail.”

Neensoyh ts’uhukk’aat. Neensoyh sehuntoyh. — I want/need to stop in the bathroom. Lit. “I have nature’s call.”

The Athabascan Word of the Week appears every Saturday on page A3 of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. The words are provided by Susan “K’etsoo” Paskvan of Yukon-Koyukuk School District. She is originally from the village of Koyukuk on the Yukon River in Interior Alaska. She is Tleeyegge Hut’aane, which is Koyukon Athabascan. She seeks stories and phrases from both Denaakk’e (Koyukon Athabascan) and Denak’a (Lower Tanana Athabascan), which are languages spoken in the Yukon-Koyukuk School District region.

Yukon-Koyukuk School District serves the villages of Allakaket, Hughes, Huslia, Koyukuk, Nulato, Kaltag, Ruby, Manley Hot Springs and Minto. The Board of Education places a priority on teaching the Native languages within the district.