An Alaska district has altered its school calendar to accommodate traditional subsistence harvests, aiming to address attendance issues and promote traditional knowledge.

Background: With a history of a 25% to 30% yearly teacher turnover and consistently low test scores, the Alaska villages of Akiachak, Akiak and Tuluksak formed the Yupiit School District in the mid-1980s to better uphold traditional Yup’ik Native knowledge.
* This year, the district’s academic calendar, aligned with seasonal subsistence harvests, was approved by the state, allowing students to partake in the fall moose hunt and the spring migratory bird harvest.

Calendar Changes: The new calendar starts a week later and ends 10 days earlier than other districts in the state, but compensates by extending the daily instruction time.
* The changes allow students to participate in seasonal hunting and harvesting activities, enhancing their understanding of traditional knowledge, while addressing the long-standing issue of poor student attendance during these periods.

Summer Culture Camp: The Yupiit schools offer a summer cultural camp, where students get hands-on experience in traditional activities, from distinguishing between different types of salmon to actually catching and processing the fish.
* These activities support dietary preferences in the school cafeterias, as district staff prefer indigenous foods, such as fish and moose caught by the students, over standard school lunch program offerings.

Impact: The new schedule and programs have sparked enthusiasm among students, many of whom expressed eagerness to partake in additional fishing expeditions.
* By giving students an opportunity to engage with and appreciate their cultural heritage, the district seeks to improve school involvement and perceived relevance of education.

View original article on NPR

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