Join the Chugach Region Climate Advisory Council

Chugachmiut and the Chugach Regional Resources Commission invite interested Elders from communities across the Chugach Region to join the Chugach Region Climate Advisory Council. We are seeking Elder representatives from: Port Graham, Nanwalek, Seward, Valdez, Chenega, Tatitlek, and Cordova.

Purpose of the Council

The Climate Advisory Council will help guide regional climate work by sharing knowledge, experiences, and observations about environmental changes across the Chugach Region.

Council goals include:

• Identifying Climate Priorities – Elders will help document current and historical climate impacts through knowledge sharing, stories, and observations. Participation opportunities may include Elder Tea gatherings, Zoom meetings, and trainings focused on environmental changes in local communities and throughout the region.
• Developing a Regional Strategic Plan – The Council will help shape a regional climate strategic plan based on priorities identified for each tribe, supporting future climate resilience and climate change initiatives across the Chugach Region.

Interested in Participating?

Please contact Beks Rumley or Angelina Roehl to complete the required paperwork for participation in Elder Tea gatherings, Zoom meetings, or trainings.

Beks Rumley
Climate Change Coordinator
Chugach Regional Resources Commission
beks@crrcalaska.org

Angelina Roehl
Cultural Heritage & Climate Justice Manager
Chugachmiut
Angelina@Chugachmiut.org
907-334-0119

Please respond by May 22, 2026.

Nunaka: My Village – Where Language Comes to Play has been named a Webby Honoree in the 30th Annual Webby Awards, recognizing excellence in Apps, Software & Immersive experiences for Education, Culture & Learning. This distinction places Nunaka among the top 25% of all entries worldwide.

Nunaka is a free, story-driven educational mobile game that invites children and families into a playful Sugpiaq village world, where Sugt’stun language and cultural learning are part of every adventure. It is designed to support early learning, language development, and school readiness through guided play.

Created in collaboration with Sugpiaq Elders, educators, and community partners, Nunaka brings language and culture to life for young learners and families. We’re grateful to everyone who helped bring this vision to life, especially our partners at Chugachmiut, FableVision, and iThrive Games.

If you haven’t explored Nunaka yet, we invite you to download the free app and experience Sugt’stun language learning through play.

• Apple App Store
• Google Play

Learn more or download Nunaka:

Nunaka: My Village

Nupuat is a quarterly publication of Chugachmiut, the tribal not-for-profit organization serving the Alaska Native peoples of the Chugach Region. If you need to update your mailing address, please email us at media@chugachmiut.org.

Here are some recently published editions:

2026 Spring 2026	2025 Fall 2025 Summer 2025 Spring 2025 Winter 2025	2024 Winter 2024 Fall 2024 Summer 2024 Spring 2024
2023 Winter 2023 Fall 2023 Summer 2023 Spring 2023	2022 Summer 2022 Spring 2022 Winter 2022	2021 Fall 2021 Summer 2021 Spring 2021 Winter 2021
2020 Fall 2020 Summer 2020 Spring 2020	2019 Winter 2019 Fall 2019 Summer 2019 Spring 2019	2018 Winter 2018 Fall 2018 Summer 2018 Spring 2018

To submit ideas, articles, stories, poetry, and pictures for use in the Nupuat, please email media@Chugachmiut.org along with a short bio of yourself. Call for submissions.

Announcing the Spring 2026 Edition of the Chugachmiut Nupuat Newsletter! ​

We’re excited to share the latest edition of Nupuat, Chugachmiut’s quarterly newsletter! ​ This issue is packed with updates, stories, and opportunities that highlight the incredible work happening across the Chugach Region. From career openings to cultural initiatives, there’s something for everyone to explore. ​

Inside This Edition:

• Career Opportunities
• Wildland Firefighting Jobs
• Ukut Ilanka Parents as Teachers
• Scholarship Opportunities
• Multi-Benefit Fuel Breaks Study
• Adventure Therapy Camp
• Llangarwik Recovery Camp
• Housing Improvement Program
• Chugach Region Language Summit
• Health Services Division News
• Chugach Regional Writers
• Employee Spotlights – Beth Kinegak & Jacob Talbert

About the Cover: Elders, youth, educators, and language bearers gather during the 2026 Chugach Region Language Summit to strengthen and celebrate the Sugt’stun and dAXunhyuu (Eyak) languages and expand the circle of language learning. Photo by Bjørn Olson.

Stay connected with Chugachmiut and learn more about how we’re working together to strengthen our communities, celebrate our culture, and create opportunities for the future. ​

For questions or submissions for the next edition, contact us at media@chugachmiut.org. ​

Read the full Nupuat Newsletter below.

View previous editions.

Chugachmiut’s Department of Education is seeking speakers and language knowledge holders to participate in a Sugt’stun Panel supporting ongoing language preservation work.

We are looking for individuals who speak Sugt’stun from Lower Cook Inlet or Prince William Sound, and/or those who can read or write in Sugt’stun using 1978, 2000, or 2022 orthographies.

Panel participants will support a variety of projects, including translation, audio recordings, and video recordings, contributing to the continued revitalization and documentation of Sugt’stun.

This is an on-call, as-needed paid opportunity (stipend-based). Participation may take place through Zoom meetings or in-person sessions, depending on project needs.

Deadline to join the panel: April 3, 2026

If you are interested or have questions, please contact:

Angelina Kalunka Roehl
Cultural Heritage & Climate Justice Manager
(907) 562-4155 or (907) 334-0119
education@chugachmiut.org
angelina@chugachmiut.org

Quyanaa, AwA’ahdah, thank you for supporting the strength and future of Sugt’stun.

Chugachmiut Behavioral Health is creating a new Adventure Therapy Program. This program will use outdoor activities, movement, and connection to the land to support mental, emotional, and physical wellness. We invite community members of all ages to submit original artwork to serve as a supporting graphic (icon/illustration) for the Adventure Therapy Program. The selected artwork may appear on outreach materials and the mobile trailer alongside the Chugachmiut logo. It will not replace or serve as an official organizational logo.

Prize

• One (1) winner: One mountain bike

Who Can Enter

• Open to all ages (parent/guardian permission required for minors).
• Entrants must reside in and be an enrolled member of one of the seven Tribes Chugachmiut serves:
  Chenega, Eyak (Cordova), Nanwalek, Port Graham, Qutekcak (Seward), Tatitlek, or Valdez.

Artwork Guidelines

Submitted artwork should:

• Be simple and clear
• Be easy to recognize from a distance
• Be suitable for use on printed materials and the mobile trailer
• Avoid bright or flashy colors

Original Work Requirement

• Submissions must be original and created by the entrant.
• By entering, you confirm you are the creator/owner of the artwork and have the right to grant permissions described in the Artwork Release Form.

How to Submit

Email your entry to becksj@chugachmiut.org with:

• Subject line: Adventure Therapy Program Contest
• Your artwork as a digital file (JPG, PNG, or PDF recommended)
• A completed and signed Artwork Release Form
  • If the entrant is under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the form
• Entries must be received by email by the deadline. Late or incomplete submissions (including missing release form) will not be considered.
• Digital submissions only.
  

Deadline: February 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM AKST

Download the flyer for the contest and the Artist Release Form below.

Does your School District or Village Council administer Native Youth Olympics (NYO) for students in Tatitlek, Chenega, Valdez, Cordova, Port Graham, Seward, or Nanwalek?

Through a new U.S. Department of Education grant, Gwangkumciit’stun Cutmen, Chugachmiut can sponsor student NYO participation during school years 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030.

What support may include:

• Student travel to NYO meets
• Coaching (hiring/compensation)
• Local event coordination and related costs

(Specific support will be determined in coordination with each community and the project’s allowable costs.)

Community responsibilities
NYO administrators continue to manage NYO in the community(ies) they support, including hiring coaches and facilitating student travel and logistics. Eligible costs may be supported by the Gwangkumciit’stun Cutmen project.

Interested?
Contact the Litnaurwik Department of Education at education@chugachmiut.org, (907) 562-4155, or (800) 478-4155 (toll-free).

Cama’i! We are thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s 2025 Christmas Card Design Contest.

Grand Prize Winner: Katelyn Sawyer-Lemme from Seward! Katelyn will receive a $200 cash prize, and her beautiful design will be featured on our official 2025 Christmas card.

Runner-up: Savior Hernandez from Nanwalek! In recognition, Savior will receive a $50 prize.

Quyanaa and AwA’ahdah to the talented artists who dedicated their time and creativity this year. We also want to acknowledge a late submission from Aurelia Hetrick from Port Graham. Although her entry arrived after the deadline and wasn’t eligible for the contest, we’re very grateful she shared her beautiful artwork with us.

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Cama’i! We are hosting our annual Christmas Card Design Contest! The grand-prize winner will be featured on our 2025 Christmas card and will also receive a $200 cash prize. Additionally, two runners-up will receive a cash prize of $50 and acknowledgment in Chugachmiut media outlets. Submissions must tie in the theme: Together in Strength and Spirit.

Artwork must be submitted digitally and include an artwork release form. Submit artwork to media@chugachmiut.org by Monday, December 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (AKST).

Prizes

• Grand Prize: $200 and your artwork featured on the 2025 Christmas card
• Two Runners-Up: $50 each and acknowledgment in Chugachmiut media outlets

How to Enter

• Eligibility
  • Open to all ages (parent or guardian approval required for minors)
  • Entrants must reside in and be a member of one of the seven Tribes Chugachmiut serves: Chenega, Eyak (Cordova), Nanwalek, Port Graham, Qutekcak (Seward), Tatitlek, or Valdez
• Artwork Submission
  • Email entries to media@chugachmiut.org (subject: Christmas Card Contest)
  • Include a completed Artwork Release Form
  • Theme: Together in Strength and Spirit
  • Artwork must be original and fit a 5” x 7” card format
  • Digital submissions only; high-resolution files required if selected
• Deadline extended: Monday, December 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (AKST)
• Artwork Rights
  • By submitting, entrants grant Chugachmiut all rights to the artwork, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display it in future materials.

Contest Rules

1. Open to all ages (guardian approval required for minors)
2. Entrants must reside in and be a member of one of Chugachmiut’s seven tribes
3. Only digital submissions accepted
4. Each submission must include a completed artwork release form
5. Artwork must be your original work
6. Must fit a 5” x 7” card and reflect the 2025 theme: Together in Strength and Spirit
7. High-resolution digital file required if selected
8. Prizes: One Grand Prize ($200 + featured artwork) and two Runners-Up ($50 + acknowledgment)

Ryan Clayton with Chugachmiut’s 477 Program will be at the Nanwalek Community Center on Wednesday, October 15, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM.
Stop by with your questions about General Assistance, scholarships, or other support programs. Light refreshments provided!

Cama’i! Chugachmiut’s Higher Education Scholarship application deadline is approaching. Download the Applications for Services application below and fill out the “Higher Education Scholarship” section. Then email it to 477application@chugachmiut.org. The application deadline for the fall 2026 semester is June 30.

Application for Services – This application includes:
• Child Care
• General Assistance
• Vocational Tuition Assistance
• Higher Education Scholarships