Yupik Second Most Spoken Native American Language

Elders ensure heritage continues

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By Corey Allen-Young
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Story Created: Dec 10, 2011 at 10:32 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Dec 10, 2011 at 10:32 AM AKDT

Yupik is the second most spoken Native North American language. About 19,000 people speak it. But elders want to make sure the centuries old language not just survives but thrives. Yupik speakers are not just speaking words but preserving history and tradition. With Alaska Native languages including Yupik uniquely ours here in the state, keeping them flowing is important. Because, as the elders teach, their language is a way of life. You don't have to ask Yupik elder Mark John to share his language. As president of the Calista Elders Council he's determined to teach by example. And he wants to give kids the true definition of what each word means, because language shapes identity.

“When you talk about it in Yupik, it’s the real meaning, your spiritual connection with the environment, the animals,” said John.

“Many people believe that the DNA of our cultures is within the language,” said Annette Evans Smith. Keeping Alaska's Native languages alive forever is what the Alaska Native Heritage Center plans on doing by connecting with regions and their dialects so they could be taught in the state's biggest village, Anchorage. “There is real opportunity to reverse the trend for language loss,” said Smith. “I think there is hope it can be done.” “The time is now, its critical now while we do have the elders and tradition bearers who can speak it.” It’s knowledge the elders are happy to pass on, because it's all about preserving culture by passing it on to the next generation.

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Francis said on Monday, Dec 12 at 2:12 PM

Alaska is comprised of regions, and to most of us, it is a dying language. But around here, the first language that is spoken, is yup'ik, second is english...Whenever I watch TLC, Disc or National Geographic, the very first language that is spoken is English, depending on what region they are filming. Greenland, Greenland Language spoken, so, it is upto you, "The Language Barrier", to teach the language and hence forth have our next generation carry the language over...

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me said on Saturday, Dec 10 at 11:05 PM

Probably still Navaho.

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CeePee said on Saturday, Dec 10 at 6:25 PM

WHAT'S #1?

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Ouzinki said on Saturday, Dec 10 at 5:56 PM

And where would I go if interested in learning to speak this language?

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Kayliegh M. L. said on Saturday, Dec 10 at 3:35 PM

I have two questions. First, where did this statistic come from? Second, what was the first most spoken Native American language? The author's reporting skills are seriously lacking.

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Jimiq said on Saturday, Dec 10 at 12:34 PM

What is the first most spoken Native language?

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