Alaska Native Post-Secondary Transition Skills

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 rainvdbconsulting@gmail.com.

Alaska Native Post-Secondary Transition Skills: Create Meaningful IEP Transition Plans (2024, Rain Van Den Berg and Frances Gage)

This guide is the result of a 2023-24 pilot with Teachers in rural Alaskan communities and shows how to use the Alaskan Cultural Standards, Alaska Native regional values, discovery-based assessments, and community perspectives in transition planning.

Set-Net Fishing Skills and Cold Water Safety Skills (2019, Co-author Robyn Chaney) (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.

Financial Literacy and Self-Employment Skills (2020, Co-author Frances Gage) (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.

Traditional Iñupiaq Sewing (2020, Co-author Frances Gage) (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 Traditional Carving (2021, Co-authors Charlie Skultka, Jr., and Chuck Miller) (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 on the Land (2021, Co-authors Chuck Miller and Margie Esquiro) (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 (2022, Co-author Phillip Albert) (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 (2022, Co-author Rochelle Adams) (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 (2022, Co-author Gwen Sargent) (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 (2022, Co-authors Melissa Silugngataanit’sqaq Marton, Joe Delgado) (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.