Rural Alaskan Post-Secondary Transition Skills Curriculum

The purpose of this project is to improve the quality of life, connection to local community, and increase work related skills for teens and young adults with disabilities who live in rural Alaska. It provides tools teachers can use to incorporate regionally specific Alaska Native values and knowledge into Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Transition Plans. Each unit of the curriculum project ties to the cultural values and topics of a specific region of Alaska, but the skills can be adapted for use throughout the state. Each unit has been developed in partnership with Alaska Native co-authors (as noted) and with culture bearers and Elders in each region (refer to acknowledgements within each unit). Each lesson includes regionally specific learning stories and suggestions for adaptation for students of different ability levels. For questions about this project, contact primary author Rain Van Den Berg at [email protected].

Growing Work Skills through Connection to Indigenous Values (2025, Rain Van Den Berg and Frances Gage)

This unit offers regionally specific resources, engaging activities, and learning stories to help students connect with their values in hands-on ways. It is designed to support the development of important life and transition skills while honoring the wisdom of the past and building confidence for the future.

Set Net Fishing and Cold-Water Safety (Rain Van Den Berg and Robyn Chaney 2019 - Updated in 2025) (Dillingham Region/Yup’ik values)

Includes guidance on how to incorporate subsistence and Alaska Native skills and values into the transition plan of an IEP. Units developed for students with higher level of functional support needs to assist with Set Net fishing harvest.

Self-Employment and Financial Literacy (Rain Van Den Berg and Frances Gage 2020 - Updated 2025) (Kotzebue Region/ Iñupiaq values)

For students with learning disabilities and less functional support needs who are interested in self-employment and creating an Alaska Native art business or other business. Includes basic financial literacy skills taught with learning stories and regionally specific examples.

Iñupiaq Sewing Skills (Rain Van Den Berg and Frances Gage 2020 - Updated 2025) (Kotzebue Region/ Iñupiaq values)

For students with learning disabilities and less functional support needs who are interested in exploring Iñupiaq sewing. This could be for connecting to culture and community, or as a path to a creative industry.

Introduction to Southeast Alaska Native Carving (Rain Van Den Berg, Charlie Skultka, Jr., and Chuck Miller 2021 - Updated in 2025) (Southeast Region/Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian values)

For students with a wide variety of functional support needs who are interested in exploring Traditional Haida, Tlingit, and Tsimshian carving. This could be for connecting to culture and community, or as a path to a creative industry.

Stewardship and Harvest from the Land (Rain Van Den Berg, Chuck Miller, and Margie Esquiro 2021 - Updated 2025) (Southeast Region/Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian values)

For students with a wide variety of functional needs who are interested in participating in
subsistence activities on the Land. This unit starts with a lesson on living Tribal values, includes safety on the Land, and ends with harvesting berries with respect.

Winter Safety on the Land (Rain Van Den Berg and Phillip Albert 2022 - Updated in 2025) (Interior Region, Dene Athabascan values)

For students with a wide variety of functional needs who are interested in participating in
subsistence activities on the Land in winter. Includes safety and survival skills for interior Alaska.

Introduction to Dene Athabascan Beading (Rain Van Den Berg and Rochelle Adams 2022 - Updated in 2025) (Interior Region, Dene Athabascan values)

For students with a wide variety of functional needs who are interested in learning about Dene Athabascan beading. This could be for connecting to culture and community, or as a path to a creative industry.

Salmon—Our Way of Life (Rain Van Den Berg and Gwen Sargent 2022 - Updated in 2025) (Kodiak Region/Alutiiq/Sugpiaq values)

For students with a wide variety of functional support needs who are interested in the salmon fishery. It covers subsistence fishing and career opportunities in the fishery including commercial, aquaculture, and fisheries management.

Indigenous Leadership Skills (Rain Van Den Berg, Melissa Silugngataanit’sqaq Marton, Joe Delgado 2022 - Updated in 2025) (Kodiak Region/Alutiiq/Sugpiaq values)

For students with learning disabilities and less functional support needs who are interested in learning leadership skills from an Indigenous perspective. Through learning stories and activities, students learn confidence building, communication, and core skills such as organization and planning.