Mia Wiederspohn, 15, prepares a Tlingit language radio broadcast aired on KSTK. She is working to help keep the language alive by learning it and teaching it to others.
It's not uncommon for high school students to learn a second language. It's a bit rarer for them to take what they've learned and teach it to others.
That's exactly what sophomore Mia Wiederspohn has been doing the past two years with the Tlingit language and by extension the culture.
As a freshman, Wiederspohn, 15, began learning Tlingit from Virginia Oliver, whose Tlingit name is Xwaanlein (the frost on the beach when the glacier passes over). She teaches the language at the high school, middle school and elementary school. Oliver took an applied learning approach to the lessons she taught to Wiederspohn.
"(Virginia) taught me by having me teach the elementary school kids through Zoom," Wiederspohn said. "There would be a little piece in the day where their teachers would show our videos and they would learn colors and letters and numbers."
She said the videos also focused on common phrases like "Dáa sá iyatéen? (What do you see?)" or "Wáa sá i duwasáakw? (What is your name?)"
This school year, Wiederspohn expanded her teaching by working with Oliver to broadcast daily Tlingit lessons on KSTK. Beyond that, she is starting her own podcast which will be available on the radio station's website, kstk.org, by summer. Each episode will focus on teaching the language and culture by interviewing people in the community.
According to a 2010 report published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Tlingit is among many North American Native languages considered critically endangered.
In a post on kstk.org, Oliver said Sealaska statistics show that less than 10% of tribal shareholders speak Tlingit. "Unless this current trend reverses, the Tlingit language will be extinct or nearly so in about 40 years," she said. "If the language is to be preserved, it will require the effort of the entire community."
Wiederspohn said she would have liked to become involved in the culture earlier, since her grandmother belongs to the Killer Whale (kéet) clan. At a recent paddle-making class, Wiederspohn adorned her work with the killer whale in honor of her family ties.
Though she loves to learn and finds ways to integrate Tlingit words into her everyday activities, Wiederspohn said some things are harder to learn than others and she checks with Oliver to make sure she's getting pronunciations correct.
"It's hard to speak, honestly, because the X's are like (makes a throaty noise) ... and you have to make X pinches," she said. "You want to make it sound perfect for the elders because they are all listening to you. It's just pure respect for everyone's at.óow - a clan-owned thing."
The sophomore's efforts have not gone unnoticed. At the annual chamber of commerce awards dinner on April 9, she was honored as the young leader of the year. Last Saturday, she was awarded the Dreamer Award at the Spirit of Youth Awards, which "highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska." The award was given for her work on Tlingit radio lessons.
"Mia really stepped up her efforts this year, not only in Tlingit but across the board," said Bob Davis, assistant principal at the high school. "I have a mantra I use with kids: Take charge of your education. It's too important to leave to others. Mia has taken charge of her education in a big way."
Wiederspohn is also involved with the BASE (Building a Supportive Environment) school group, and she organized the homecoming pep rally this year. On top of her extracurricular activities, she is working hard in school to get as far ahead as possible.
"I want to get close to a semester of college done by the time I graduate," she said. "This year, I'm getting all my required classes done. The year after next, as a senior, I'll take all prerequisite classes and fill my schedule so I'm prepared for college."
She plans to become a sonographer, working with ultrasound equipment, but she also wants to work for the U.S. Forest Service because of her love of the outdoors. As a tour guide during the summer, Wiederspohn will integrate the Tlingit words for various animals that can be spotted during an outing like séek for black bear.
As much as she would like to be fluent, she admits that could take some time.
"It's such a complex language," Wiederspohn said. "(Virginia is) not fluent even though she's been learning for 20-plus years. Do I think I'll ever be fluent? No."
She's had people tell her they look forward to the radio spots each day. "It's interesting that people don't usually think about Tlingit, but whenever they get a chance to be exposed to it, they really enjoy it," Wiederspohn said. "I'm glad I provide that exposure."
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