Native languages council to decide if state education employees can serve

The Council of Alaska Native Languages will decide whether Alaska Department of Education & Early Development employees can serve on the council when it meets Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Anchorage, according to its meeting notice. The agenda also calls for electing a chair and vice chair and approving a revised 2026 biennial report to the governor and the Alaska State Legislature.

The council advises the governor and the Legislature on preserving, restoring and revitalizing Alaska Native languages, according to the department's council information page. The 2026 Biennial Report on Alaska Native Languages says the council represents more than 23 Alaska Native languages.

"We really have a crisis in our Alaska Native languages here across the state in that we are not producing the speakers that we want to," Rep. Andi Story said at a May 4 House Education Committee hearing on a bill to create a legislative task force on the languages.

The agenda also includes a letter of support for the Alaska Native Language Center and, near the end, a public discussion titled "Indigenous Languages and Healing," followed by public testimony. One discussion question on the agenda asks: "What support do you need in your language journey?"