Resilient Yup’ik Immersion Program Supports Evacuated Alaska Children

Sat Nov 15 2025 08:43:58 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In Anchorage, a dedicated Yup’ik language immersion program is providing shelter and education to children displaced by natural disasters in their home villages along the Bering Sea.

Following the devastating aftermath of Typhoon Halong, many Alaska Native families were airlifted to Anchorage, where they now face the challenge of adapting to a new life. Amid this, the Yup’ik immersion program at College Gate Elementary and Wendler Middle School has seen a surge in enrollment, providing crucial educational support and cultural connection for around 71 displaced children. As students navigate their new surroundings, they engage in learning Yup’ik language and traditions, fostering resilience and community ties in a time of upheaval.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Rayann Martin, a 10-year-old from her coastal village, now finds herself adjusted to her new classroom in Anchorage, learning her age in the Yup’ik language as she adjusts to life away from home after Typhoon Halong devastated her village. Last month, many homes floated away during the floods, leaving residents, including Martin, airlifted to Anchorage.

In the wake of the disaster, the Anchorage School District's Yup’ik immersion program has seen its numbers swell, with 71 of the 170 displaced children enrolling since they arrived in the city. This program not only teaches Yup’ik language but also reconnects these children to their rich cultural traditions amidst the upheaval they face.

“I’m learning more Yup’ik,” said Martin, who expresses joy in using the language to connect with classmates and teachers, even though adapting to city life offers its own challenges. The immersion program is one of only two in the state, emphasizing not only Yup’ik language acquisition but the understanding of Indigenous culture, history, and practices.

Principal Darrell Berntsen, himself Alaska Native, understands the importance of issues such as cultural preservation and adaptation, having experienced similar massive evacuations in his mother's past. He actively engages with the families affected by the flooding, encouraging them to enroll children in the immersion program to help ease their transition.

Evacuated children are not just learning about their language and culture; they're forging community ties that bridge generations and heal wounds inflicted over decades. Schools like College Gate have integrated activities that resonate with childhood traditions, ensuring that students remain connected to their heritage even while adjusting to life in the city.

As families grapple with losing their homes, the program fosters hope and resilience, allowing students to develop linguistic skills that link them with their roots, and ultimately aims to rectify the disconnect created by colonial influences. It’s more than education; it’s a step toward recovery for a community rich in history and tradition.