Introduction to Iñupiaq Language and Culture

Qaġġun Chelsey Zibell serves as Assistant Professor of Iñupiaq Language at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, bringing her deep cultural roots from Noorvik, an Iñupiat community in the Northwest Arctic Borough, to her innovative approach to language education. Since joining UAF in 2019 after earning her M.Ed. in Secondary Education, she has revolutionized Iñupiaq language instruction by developing user-friendly digital learning platforms and interactive teaching materials that make the language more accessible to new learners. As faculty advisor for the Iñu-Yupiaq Dance Group at UAF, she integrates traditional cultural practices with modern teaching methods, while her expertise in Iñupiaq grammar, literature development, and online curriculum creation has helped address the urgent need to preserve this endangered language, which currently has approximately 1,250 fluent speakers. Her work represents a crucial bridge between traditional language preservation and modern educational technology, making her a vital force in the movement to revitalize and sustain Iñupiaq language and culture for future generations.