Team Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa

As Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa advocates and language workers, we feel it is important to acknowledge those who have come before us in working on and stewarding the language. This includes our ancestors and all those who have in the past and are currently contributing work on Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa in all forms. Mahsi’ choo!

This page includes our GSCIA board members, Gwich’in language database project first language speakers, staff and collaborators.

At a future time we will also begin a list to acknowledge all of the individuals who have contributed to help preserve, document, and teach Alaskan Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa in the past and present day, as well as a resource page.

Gwich’in Language Database
Elders & First Language Speakers

Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa first language speakers and elders are the foundation of our work. Their knowledge, wisdom, and expertise enables us to document and produce high quality language learning products and resources. They are the PhD’s of our language & culture and we honor them for all that they share and do to make this work possible!

This is a list of the elders and first language speakers who are directly contributing to the Gwich’in Language Database project that serves as a foundational resource for the products we will be releasing in the coming years.

Trimble Gilbert
Mildred Allen
Mary Fields
Margaret Henry-John

Paul Williams Sr
Kathy Tritt
Freda Joseph
Virginia Peter

Paul Williams Jr
Florence Newman
William (Oluu) Tritt

Team Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa
Staff & Collaborators

Team Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa staff and collaborators are people who are helping to advance the work across several GSCIA projects. They include linguists, second language speakers, students, technical experts, partner leads, staff and Indigenous scholars.

This is a list of collaborators who have directly contributed to one or more of the projects and products we are developing. Additional contributors and specialized work is credited on individual products.

GSCIA Staff
Evon Peter

Indigenous Scholars
Charleen Fisher
Allan Hayton
Lawreen Buresch
Shani Fisher-Salmon

Gwich’in Linguists
Hishinlai’ Peter

Partner Staff
Sydney Rey
Elliot Thornton
Shelby Fisher-Salmon
Noah Link
Emma Percival

Partner Leads
Chief Rhonda Pitka
Rebecca Fisher

Students
William Fisher
Jason Henry

Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute of Alaska
Board of Directors

  • Paul Williams Jr

    Paul is Neets’ąįį and Tseeduu Gwich’in, a Gwich’in community member from Beaver, Alaska and a first language speaker of Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa. He has worked as a Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa language teacher in the Yukon Flats School District since 1994, and has been one of the foremost advocates for revitalizing Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa and Gwich’in culture. He has a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

  • Dr. Charleen Fisher

    Dr. Fisher is Tseeduu Gwich’in, a member of the Gwich’in community from Beaver, Alaska and a life-long advocate for Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa revitalization. She is a professor of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She has many years of experience as a K-12 certified teacher and principal in the Yukon Flats and Fairbanks North Star Borough School Districts. She has previously served as Education Director with the Council of Athabascan Tribal Government and as the Chief of Beaver Village Council. Dr. FIsher has a B.A. in Political Science, M.Ed. in Language and Literacy, and a Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

  • Evon Peter

    Evon is Neets’ąįį Gwich’in from Vashrąįį K’ǫǫ (Arctic Village). He is an advocate of Indigenous knowledges, languages, and rights. He is a senior research scientist at the Center for Alaska Native Health Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and serves on the board for the Gwich’in Council International. He has previously served as the village chief for Vashrąįį K’ǫǫ and as vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education at UAF. His personal work has focused on incorporating Indigenous knowledge and practices into healing, leadership development, and Gwich’in language revitalization programs. He holds a baccalaureate degree in Alaska Native studies and a masters degree in rural development.

  • Allan Hayton

    Allan Hayton is Neets’ąįį Gwich’in from Vashrąįį K’ǫǫ (Arctic Village) and the Language Revitalization Program Director of the Doyon Foundation. He is a first language speaker of Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa and has many years of experience in Indigenous pedagogy. and language instruction. Prior to his position with the Doyon Foundation, he worked as the Program Manager of the Gwich’in Steering Committee and Gwich’in Language Instructor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He has an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

  • Rebecca Fisher

    Rebecca Fisher is Tseeduu Gwich’in and a member of the Gwich’in community from Beaver, Alaska. She is a life-long advocate for Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa language revitalization, a language learner and skilled artist.