Sealaska Heritage Institute wins federal grant for Juneau's Tlingit language school program

Sealaska Heritage Institute has won a five-year federal grant for its Tlingit school program in Juneau, four months after warning the program would lose its principal and a language teacher without new money.

The Administration for Children and Families signed the award Sept. 24, committing $899,980 through its Esther Martinez Immersion program, which funds Native language immersion schools. The project is titled "Haa Sgóoni Kei Naltseen (Strengthening Our School): Sovereignty for a Resilient Future for TCLL School." The grant period starts Sept. 30 and runs five years, through Sept. 29, 2031.

For five-year projects, the program pays for the first three years up front, up to $300,000 a year, and may add up to $600,000 later. The $899,980 is just under that three-year cap. The award record does not say what the money pays for or whether the principal and language teacher jobs will return.

TCLL is the Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy program at Harborview Elementary, founded by SHI and the Juneau School District in 2000. Its last federal grant, a $7.17 million U.S. Department of Education award called "At Koowahaa," expanded the dual-language program through grade 8 and ended Sept. 29, 2025.

In a May 5 release, SHI said the district paid for five classroom teachers and two language teachers in 2025-2026, while an SHI grant covered the principal, two language instructors, teacher training and other supports. "With the lack of funding from SHI, the support provided by the grant will disappear, along with the principal and one language teacher position," the release said.

"It's difficult to watch a program celebrated for excellence losing the resources needed to make it whole," SHI President Rosita Worl said.

Parents and staff raised more than $13,000 at a May 2 fundraiser. Days later, Alaska House Education Committee co-chair Andi Story brought TCLL to the Capitol. "It highlights our Indigenous culture and languages. It is the 25th year of their program. It elevates Elders and children," she said in SHI's announcement.

Jamie Shanley, SHI's director of language and primary education, said funding "should be allocated accordingly to continue expanding this necessary program."

The district's TCLL page lists Molly Yerkes as principal and says applications are open. No statement from SHI, the district, TCLL families or the federal agency addresses how the new money affects staffing or enrollment this school year.