We are currently recruiting partners for three roles: Linguistic and Cultural Ambassadors, Language Advisory Panel members, and Content Developers. Recruitment is currently restricted to our first three focal languages — Iñupiaq, Tlingít, and Yup’ik — but will soon expand to additional Alaska Native languages!
Learn more by watching this video or read on!
Linguistic and Cultural Ambassadors
We are seeking an individual for one of our first three focal languages — Iñupiaq. Ambassadors will work closely with the Project Coordinator and the rest of the UO team and collaborate on many aspects of the project, including researching their language, choosing what to screen in which grades, developing items, leading data collection, developing interpretation guidance, and facilitating the work of the Language Advisory Panels (see below).
The ideal applicants will have an associate’s degree or higher, experience effectively managing diverse ongoing activities and managing time, experience working in schools and with individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and/or linguistic backgrounds, basic knowledge and skills in reading and writing in one of the languages, and an ability to work and travel in the region in Alaska associated with a language.
Ambassadors can work up to .40 FTE for up to two years; hours and location are flexible. Ambassadors should be familiar with one of the languages and able to travel within Alaska to support the work. Apply to the Center on Teaching and Learning “pro tem research assistant” pool here: https://careers.uoregon.edu/en-us/job/534154/pro-tem-research-assistantassociate-open-pool. Be sure to mention your interest in the Literacy Screeners for Alaska Indigenous Languages Project!
Language Advisory Panel Members
We are seeking 5 to 7 individuals familiar with Iñupiaq to advise us in our work. Language Advisors will help ensure the relevance and cultural responsiveness of the screeners. Language Advisors will help the UO team to understand the phonemes and alphabet of their language, as well as important history and traditions related to reading and writing in their language. They will also advise on the scope and sequence of reading and writing instruction in Indigenous languages in instructional settings where Indigenous languages are taught. As the project proceeds, Language Advisors will also get reports on project progress and results and will inform the development of methods for score reporting. Language Advisors will also help the team to recruit Content Developers able to write, or dictate, grade-level appropriate reading passages for the screeners. Occasionally, a language advisor may also serve as a Content Developer or as the direct liaison to a Content Developer.
We seek fluent readers and writers and fluent speakers, but are open to other community members. We eagerly seek elders and educators, as well as parents, linguists, and school administrators. Should we experience overwhelming interest, we may need to be selective in forming the panels but will also develop other opportunities for collaboration.
Panelists are asked to commit for at least a year and will be compensated for their time as consultants. Email Katherine Wright (klwright@uoregon.edu) to communicate interest and please be sure to share the language you wish to represent, your level of oral and written fluency, and the perspective(s) you would bring to the panel.
Content Developers
We are seeking two or more story-tellers/writers for each of our first three focal languages — Iñupiaq, Tlingít, and Yup’ik. Authors must be fluent in the target language and experienced in story-telling or writing, ideally for young children. Oral story-tellers will be paired as needed with transcriptionists to help put their stories down in writing, as well as to provide English translations of their work. Email Katherine Wright (klwright@uoregon.edu) to communicate interest and please be sure to share the language you wish to represent and whether you would require a transcriptionist.