Jason Williams in Nanwalek

Chugachmiut is pleased to announce that Jason Williams, Director of Information Technology and Corporate Security, has been appointed to a three-year term on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Native Nations Communications Task Force. This Task Force is dedicated to fulfilling the FCC’s commitment to increasing access to broadband and other communications infrastructure deployment and services on tribal lands.

Mr. Williams brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing Native Nations. His appointment underscores our ongoing efforts to ensure all communities have the connectivity they need to thrive in the digital age.

We congratulate Mr. Williams on this significant appointment as he embarks on this crucial mission to enhance broadband access and communications services for tribal lands.

Please send any comments or suggestions regarding broadband in your community to Jason Williams at jasonw@chugachmiut.org.

Grand Prize Winner: Valentina Eluska from Nanwalek! Valentina will receive a $200 cash prize, and her beautiful design will be featured on our official 2024 Christmas card.

Runners-up: Carmella Tanape from Tatitlek and Melonie Kashevarof from Chenega! In recognition of their amazing entries, both will receive a $50 cash prize.


We are hosting our annual Christmas Card Design Contest with a chance to win one of three prizes! The grand prize winner will be featured on our 2024 Christmas card and will also receive a cash prize of $200. Additionally, there will be two – runners-up who will receive a cash prize of $50 and acknowledgment in Chugachmiut media outlets. Submissions must tie in the 50th anniversary theme: Self Determination at its best: 50 years of Service to the Chugach Region; Building The Next Generation.

Artwork must be submitted digitally and include an artwork release form. Submit artwork to media@chugachmiut.org by Friday, November 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. (AKST).

The contest is open to everyone of all ages. Once submitted, Chugachmiut assumes all rights to the artwork, including the right to sell, destroy, and/or reuse it.

Christmas Card Contest Rules

  1. The contest is open to all ages. Minors must have a parent or guardian’s approval.
  2. Special consideration may be given to entrants that reside in or are a member of one of the seven (7) Tribes Chugachmiut serves: Chenega, Eyak (Cordova), Nanwalek, Port Graham, Qutekcak (Seward), Tatitlek, or Valdez.
  3. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Submissions can be emailed to media@chugachmiut.org and should include “Christmas Card Contest” as the subject.
  4. All submissions must include an artwork release form. For minors, a parent or guardian must sign the form.
  5. You must be the creator of the art you submit. If it can be submitted electronically, artwork is not limited to a specific media.
  6. Artwork must be able to fit on a 5×7 card.
  7. Artwork should reflect the 50th anniversary theme.
  8. Lower-quality images can be entered for the contest as long as a high-quality image can be provided upon request of winning.
  9. There will be three prizes. One grand prize: The grand prize winner will be featured on our 2024 Christmas card and receive a cash prize of $200; there will be two runners-up who receive a cash prize of $50 and acknowledgment in Chugachmiut media outlets.

Download the artwork release form below.

November 20, 2024
Contact: media@chugachmiut.org, 907-334-0160

Anchorage, AK – Since its 2023 release, Chugachmiut’s game Nunaka: My Village – Where Language Comes to Play has won four educational video game awards and received two additional nominations. This 3D learning app engages children in the Sugpiaq culture and Sugt’stun language of Alaska’s Chugach region. It serves as an early childhood introduction to cultural heritage while supporting essential school readiness goals for Chugachmiut’s federally funded Head Start program.

In recent competitions, Nunaka was honored with the following:

In addition, Nunaka received two notable nominations, including the 2024 Kidscreen Awards, Best Learning App – Original, Finalist, and 2024 Games 4 Change, Diverse Voices – New Stories Contest, Nominee.

Chugachmiut incorporated Nunaka into its Head Start centers in Nanwalek and Port Graham, where most of the children are of Sugpiaq heritage. The game is a supplemental tool, engaging children through interactive adventures that promote enthusiasm for their community, the Sugt’stun language, and Sugpiaq cultural values. It features culturally relevant games such as berry picking, sea creature identification, and qayaq riding, designed to improve fine motor skills and cognitive development.

To ensure cultural and linguistic authenticity, FableVision collaborated with the Nanwalek IRA Council and Port Graham Village Council in 2022. Elders provided voice recordings for scripts, and young Sugt’stun speakers tested the game for Chugachmiut’s Head Start program. Their voices are included in the final product.

“We are grateful for the invaluable input from Elders and Sugt’stun language bearers in developing this culturally relevant learning platform for the Chugach region,” says Angela ‘Jan’ Vanderpool, Executive Director of Chugachmiut. “With Nunaka, children can connect to their culture, language, and environment while achieving key school readiness goals.”

“There were a lot of intricacies of working with Sugt’stun. This language has been passed down via oral tradition rather than as a written language, and there is an extremely small number of master speakers remaining, many of whom have lost some of their knowledge of the language over time,” said Anne Richards, VP of FableVision’s audio division.

Explore Nunaka’s vibrant visuals and activities in the trailer and introductory video. Nunaka: My Village is free to download from the Apple and Google Play app stores. The app was made possible with generous support from the U.S. Department of Education.

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About Chugachmiut

Chugachmiut is a 501(c)3 non-profit established in 1974 to serve and promote the self-governance of the seven Native tribes of the Chugach Region of Alaska. Chugachmiut offers a range of services to its seven constituent tribal communities, including primary care, dentistry, behavioral health, addictions counseling, trust and land management, heritage preservation, and wildland firefighting. Learn more at www.chugachmiut.org.

Azalyn Ukatish-Evan plays Nunaka: My Village at the Nanwalek Head Start. Photo courtesy of Chugachmiut.
A fictionalized Sugpiaq village comes to life in Nunaka, featuring vibrant characters and activities. Image courtesy of Chugachmiut.
Create an avatar in Nunaka, complete with Sugpiaq regalia and traditional headdresses. Image courtesy of Chugachmiut.
Engage in culturally inspired activities, such as berry picking, in Nunaka. Image courtesy of Chugachmiut.
Since its 2023 release, Nunaka has earned four prestigious educational awards. Image courtesy of Chugachmiut.

Download a PDF of this release.

Download a Nunaka fact sheet.

Learn more about Nunaka.

Help shape the future of education! Please take our short survey about education and schools. This survey will take about 5 to 8 minutes and will give us valuable feedback on how to support learning. Your responses will help guide the creation of new education programs and services.

Chugachmiut is excited to offer a unique funding opportunity for teachers to support innovative, student-centered projects during the 2024-2025 academic year. We are inviting teachers to submit proposals using our online form for projects that provide unique experiences to Native students in grades K-12 who live in the Chugachmiut communities of Nanwalek, Port Graham, Seward, Tatitlek, Chenega, Valdez, and Cordova.

Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis until 5:00 PM on April 30, 2025. We encourage bold and creative submissions.

Project Information

This grant provides students with opportunities to learn in a wide range of environments. Teachers, schools, community leaders, and other education providers can submit proposals. Project proposals must request at least $5,000, with no ceiling on the reasonable amount that can be requested (a maximum of $5000 per Native student).

Applicants are encouraged to think creatively in bringing a wide range of educational experiences to Alaska Native children. Please see examples of proposed projects at the end of this form.

Funding will be awarded to proposals that meet the criteria of the grant.

Project Timeline

Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis through our online form until 5:00 PM, April 30, 2025. If funded, projects should be implemented within the 2024-2025 academic year, with all activities completed by no later than July 30, 2025. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions within two weeks of their proposal submission.

Submission Details

Please complete the Project Proposal Form HERE. If assistance is required, please contact either of the Key Contacts to receive technical assistance.

Responsibilities for funded projects

Teachers and/or schools receiving funding will be responsible for clearly outlining their project activities and demonstrating a reasonable budget plan in their proposals. Each proposal must indicate the number of Native students who will be impacted by this project. Project staff and volunteers will require a federal background check with Chugachmiut, and basic demographic data and Tribal enrollment will be required from the student participants.

Regular progress updates will also be required throughout the project timeline.

Proposal Timeline

RFP DistributedOctober 4, 2024
Proposals due to ChugachmiutAccepted on a rolling basis
Evaluation of ProposalsEvaluated on a rolling basis

Evaluation Criteria

Chugachmiut will evaluate proposals on the following criteria:

a)Clear and reasonable budget plan35
b)Clear and reasonable project activities35
c)Level of community involvement (Elders, families, parents, etc.)15
d)Strategies to engage and involve students in the project15

Key Contacts

Following are key contacts for information you may seek in preparing your proposal:

Paul McDonogh
Department of Education Director paul@chugachmiut.org
(907) 562-4155
Haley Hakala Burnett
Department of Education Manager haleyhakala@chugachmiut.org
(907) 334-0172

Organization Information
Chugachmiut
1840 Bragaw Street, Suite 110
Anchorage, Alaska 99508

Contact:
Haley Hakala Burnett
haleyhakala@chugachmiut.org
(907) 334-0172

Project: Funding for Creative Learning Projects and Activities
Proposal Accepted on a Rolling Basis Until: 5:00 PM, April 30, 2025

Background of Chugachmiut

Chugachmiut is an Alaska Native Tribal consortium providing healthcare, social services, and education & training to the Chugach region. The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Chugachmiut as a charitable, tax-exempt organization pursuant to section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We serve the Prince William Sound and Kachemak Bay areas comprised of the following tribes: Qutekcak (Seward), Nanwalek, Port Graham, Tatitlek, Eyak (Cordova), Valdez, and Chenega. Chugachmiut was founded in 1974 with a defined mission to promote self-determination to the seven Native communities of the Chugach region, adopted in May 1994.

For more information, please visit our website at www.chugachmiut.org.

The Chugachmiut Tribal Education Department (CTED) is a new addition to the Chugachmiut community that is expanding with educational services activities through federal grant administration. The CTED incorporates the Chugachmiut Heritage Programs, which have a twenty-year history of documenting, recording, and teaching about the histories of our region’s Sugpiaq and Eyak communities. We partner with four school districts and provide educational services that improve whole learning.

For more information on the CTED, please visit www.chugachheritageak.org.

Join us on Wednesdays at 11 am for our Recovery Group at the Qutekcak Native Tribe in Seward. Open to all adults, with confidentiality assured. Contact Giovanna Atkins, LMSW, at Giovanna@Chugachmiut.org or (907) 224-4914 with any questions.

 

Cama’i! Join us for our virtual Laugh & Learn on Wednesday, August 14, at 2 p.m. Jim Miller will present on Using Alaska Native Ancestral Ways for Healing from Trauma and Addiction. Don’t miss out—join us on Zoom for this inspiring session! Contact Barbara Siefert at BarbaraS@Chugachmiut.org ahead of time for the Zoom link. Quyanaa/AwA’ahdah!

UPDATE: We’re excited to announce the winners of the VPSO Patch Design Call for Art!

A huge congratulations to:

  • First Place: Gail Evanoff
  • Second Place: Ephimia “Apamia” Kvasnikoff
  • Third Place: Valentina Eluska

We were very impressed by the creativity and thoughtfulness each artist put into their submissions, beautifully capturing Sugpiaq heritage and the Chugach region. Quyanaa & AwA’ahdah to everyone who entered and shared their incredible artwork with us!

The final VPSO patch design will be revealed later, so stay tuned for updates!


Chugachmiut is seeking art submissions for a patch design to be worn on the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) uniform. We invite artists from our region to submit their color artwork, whether drawing or digital, for consideration. Selected art will be used to create a unique patch symbolic of the Sugpiaq heritage and Chugach region.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Purpose: To gather color artwork from artists from the Chugach region* for use in a patch design. The artwork should represent both the Sugpiaq heritage and the Chugach region.
  • Compensation: The top three designs will be recognized and compensated as follows:
    • First – $500
    • Second – $250
    • Third – $100
  • Submission Deadline Extended: October 31, 2024
  • How to Submit: Please send a high-resolution image of your artwork, a brief description, and contact information to media@chugachmuit.org.
  • Selection Criteria: Submissions will be evaluated based on creativity, relevance to cultural awareness, and suitability for adaptation into a public safety patch.

Selection Process:

  • A committee will review all submissions.
  • Selected artists will be notified by November 8, 2024.

We may work with the selected artist to make necessary edits that align with the purpose. If none of the submissions meet our needs, we may collaborate with a regional artist to design the patch identified through this process. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Angela Gonzalez, Communications Manager, at (907) 562-4155, (800) 478-4155 (toll-free), or media@chugachmuit.org.

*Chugachmiut is an Alaska Native 501(c)3 non-profit agency incorporated in 1974 to serve the seven Native tribes in the Chugach Region, including the communities of Chenega, Eyak, Nanwalek, Port Graham, Qutekcak, Tatitlek, and Valdez.

We look forward to seeing your creative submissions!

Chugachmiut requests qualifications for an External Evaluator for an Education Innovation & Research Early Phase Grant to serve as an external evaluator to the Chugach Identity Project, a social-emotional learning intervention to regional high schools to improve learning factors related to identity, belonging, and place hood.

Budget: Up to $80K annually for five years or up to $400K

KEY CONTACTS

  • Paul McDonogh, Department of Education Director. Phone: 907-562-4155. Email: paul@chugachmiut.org
  • Andrew C. Garner, Grants Administrator. Phone: 907-334-0133. Email: andrewg@chugachmiut.org

Please email complete proposals to paul@chugachmiut.org and andrewg@chugachmiut.org. Do not hesitate to contact either Key Contact if assistance is required.

Download the External Evaluator RFQ below:

Chugachmiut requests quotes from qualified land surveyors to conduct a meets and bounds survey to generate an exhibit with a legal description for a vacant lot in Port Graham, Alaska. Chugachmiut will accept and review quotes from firms with demonstrated experience performing meets and bounds land surveys and give priority preference to responses that indicate prior experience working in rural Alaska and previous work with Alaska Native/American Indian tribes and tribal organizations.

The vacant lot, hereafter referred to as Lot A, is in Port Graham. It is rectangular and measures 161′ by 229′, or 36,021.82 sq. ft. total. The lot is undeveloped and not road accessible; access is made by brief hiking through two preceding lots. Lot A has been identified as the future site of a Chugachmiut Head Start facility.

Up to $3,000.00 is available for this contract to perform the meets and bounds survey and prepare an exhibit with a legal description for Lot A in Port Graham.

KEY CONTACTS

  • Kristin Ramstad, Head Start Director. Phone: 907-334-0123. Email: kristinr@chugachmiut.org
  • Andrew C. Garner, Grants Administrator. Phone: 907-334-0133. Email: andrewg@chugachmiut.org

Please submit your quote via email to Andrew C. Garner or by mail to ATTN: Andrew C. Garner, Chugachmiut, 1840 Bragaw Street, Office 214, Anchorage, AK 99508-3463.

Download the Land Surveying Services RFQ below: