Native language survey

One of the key themes to emerge at the Native Language Roundtable held in Anchorage in May was the need to survey the current status of Native languages in the state. Susan Paskvan has made available a report from a survey she conducted in the Doyon region in March 2012. The report reaches some interesting conclusions. For example, nearly one quarter of respondents stated that they stopped speaking their Native language before completing public schooling. The report also notes a strong interest in personal and place names: 62% of respondents use or teach their children about traditional personal names, and 40% use or teach their children about traditional place names.

Also included with the report is the original survey form, which can be freely adapted for use in future language surveys in other regions.

You can find the report at the Alaska Native Language Archive, item KO981P2012.