Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council The Alaska Native Language Preservation & Advisory Council provides recommendations and advice to both the Governor and Legislature on programs, policies, and projects; and to network and advocate in support of the Council’s mission. The Alaska Native Language Preservation & Advisory Council was created by the second session of the 27th Legislature. The Governor appointed to the council five voting members who are professional language experts and who represent diverse regions of the state. In addition, one member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall serve on the council as nonvoting members. In appointing the nonvoting members of the Council, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint a member of the bush caucus, if a bush caucus exists. In this subsection, "bush caucus" means a group of legislators that represents rural areas of the state. The members appointed by the Governor shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. What's New At ANLPAC! Alaska Native Language Council Urges New Directions in Alaska Native Language Survival The Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council has published its 2022 Biennial Report to the Governor and Legislature. It is the culmination of the Council’s meetings with stakeholder groups over the past 24 months since the 2020 Biennial Report came out and is required by Alaska Statute 44.33.520. Created by the Legislature in 2012, the Council oversees research from which it makes findings and recommendations to the State of Alaska on how Alaska can best promote the continued survival of Alaska’s Indigenous languages. Key themes in this 2022 Report are: strategic language policy & planning by Alaska Native peoples shaping the future survival of their own languages; decolonization as in integral component of healing inter-generational trauma; and highlighting the best practices to increase the number of speakers of Alaska Native languages. Although all Alaska Native languages are recognized as official languages of the State of Alaska, every one has seen a decline in the number of speakers over the last several decades. While the declines continue, there are some noteworthy successes where English-only Alaskans have become fluent in one of Alaska’s Native languages, either as students in a language immersion school or by working individually in a master-apprentice relationship with fluent elders. These new, fluent, second-language speakers spark new hope for all of Alaska’s threatened and endangered Native languages—especially as some are now raising their own children as new, first-language speakers. 2022 Biennial Report to the Governor and the Legislature Summary of 2022 Report 2020 Biennial Report to the Governor and the Legislature Openings Within the Council There will be two openings on the Alaska Native Language Preservation & Advisory Council , to be filled by appointment by the Governor, on or before August 20th, 2023. The ANLPAC advocates for the preservation, restoration, and revitalization of Alaska Native languages and directly informs the Governor, the State Legislature, and Alaskan citizens about recommended strategies for the survival of all Alaska Native languages. ANLPAC members serve as volunteers and represent all Alaska Native languages, not only their own. For the best opportunity to be considered for this appointment, please apply before the end of June. Please share this information. If you or someone you know is professionally involved with Alaska Native languages and would like to be considered for appointment to this important council, please go to the Apply for a Board Appointment page. From there you can initiate your application using the hot link “Apply Online” on the lower left. Once there, use the drop down menu under “Board/Commission and seat you are seeking:” and select 'Native Language Preservation And Advisory Council '. Contact For more information about the Alaska Native Language Preservation & Advisory Council D. Roy Mitchell, IV Research Analyst Division of Community and Regional Affairs Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Phone: 907-269-3646 Email: roy.mitchell@alaska.gov DCRA Staff Directory Staff Directory Social Media Revised 03/10/2023