Children and adults who want to learn how to converse in the Denaakk’e (Koyukon) language have a new opportunity: a brand new Doyon Languages Online course based on the work of the late Agnes Moore. Doyon Languages Online courses are available for free to all interested learners, who can sign up at doyonfoundation.com/dlo.
Agnes was born at Mission Creek above Tanana on April 13, 1922. She lived in Rampart and Fairbanks. She was the youngest of 16 children born to Chief Daniel and Cecelia Moses Matthew.
In her early days, Agnes was raised in the traditional Athabascan lifestyle of living off the land. She taught the Athabascan language for many years at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She also worked for the Tanana Chiefs Conference agriculture program and volunteered at Fairbanks Native Association Head Start.
Baasee’ to Agnes’ family for their permission to share her lessons through Doyon Languages Online. We also say baasee’ to James Kari, John Ritter, the Alaska Native Language Center, the Yukon Native Language Centre, Transparent Language, 7000 Languages and Doyon, Limited for their support.
These Denaakk’e lessons are the latest offerings of Doyon Languages Online, a project to increase the number of people who can speak the endangered Native languages of the Doyon region. Currently available courses include:
• Benhti Kokhut’ana Kenaga’ (Lower Tanana) (Doyon Languages Online course, plus online course based on the work of the late Ellen Frank)
• Deg Xinag
• Denaakk’e (Koyukon) (Doyon Languages Online course, plus online course based on the work of Agnes Moore)
• Dihthaad Xt’een Iin Aanděeg’ (Tanacross) (Doyon Languages Online course, plus online course based on the work of Irene Arnold)
• Dinak’i (Upper Kuskokwim)
• Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa (Gwich’in)
• Doogh Qinag (Holikachuk)
• Hän (Doyon Languages Online course, plus special memorial course based on the work of the late Isaac Juneby)
• Iñupiaq (based on the work of Lorena Williams and Larry Kaplan)
• Nee’aanèegn’ (Upper Tanana) (Doyon Languages Online course, plus online course based on the work of Avis Sam)
Doyon Languages Online courses are available for free to all interested learners.
