Chilkat indian village will address needs identified by the community by focusing on tlingit language use in context with traditional land use and subsistence practices

Federal Grant Award Summary

Chilkat Indian Village received a $143,094 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services program (CFDA 45.311), awarded October 1, 2025, with completion scheduled for September 30, 2027. The award supports the Klukwan Community and School Library's partnership with the Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center to preserve and revitalize Tlingit language and traditional knowledge. The project will develop noun and phrase books aligned with traditional subsistence practices, specifically Moose Camp and Salmon Camp activities, utilizing language materials curated and recorded from past community camps. Additionally, the grant funds the creation of video and audio resources documenting traditional language use in context, which will be archived in Klukwan's digital collections for accessibility by community members and tribal citizens.

This initiative addresses documented community needs by integrating Tlingit language instruction with traditional land use and subsistence practices, demonstrating the Enhancement Grant stream's focus on cultural preservation and revitalization alongside digital service improvements. The project represents a comprehensive approach to language documentation and cultural continuity, leveraging the library's role as a knowledge resource center while strengthening educational and cultural transmission within the Tlingit community in Haines, Alaska.

To accomplish project goals, klukwan community and school library will continue its successful partnership with the non-profit jilkaat kwaan heritage center, the host organization of the traditional knowledge camps. The library will work to develop noun and phrase books that align with activities in moose camp and salmon camp, using phrases and nouns curated and recorded from past subsistence camps. Video with audio resources will be added to klukwan's digital archives, where they will be accessible to community members and tribal members at large.