Next on Native Bidaské, host Levi Rickert sits down with Moses Wiseman, a 24-year-old visionary recently named a 2026 Champion for Change by the Aspen Institute. As the Director of the Alaska Native Languages Program at the Alaska Institute for Justice, Wiseman is proving that language revitalization belongs in the ER just as much as it belongs in the classroom.
Moving Beyond the “Museum Piece”
Wiseman’s mission is simple but profound: normalization. For him, Yup’ik shouldn’t just be preserved in archives; it should be heard in hospital triage, courtrooms, and schools.
One of his flagship projects is the Aperyarat Calricaraam Tungiinun, an interactive medical glossary.
- The Goal: Providing audio and text translations for complex terms like “diabetes” or “depression.”
- The Impact: Ensuring Yup’ik speakers—particularly elders—can navigate emergency care without the fear or confusion that often stems from language barriers.
- The Tech Edge: Wiseman is also correcting the record for AI, which frequently conflates Yup’ik with other Arctic languages, ensuring digital tools respect linguistic nuances.
The Bridge Between Generations
Wiseman speaks candidly about the “cultural humility” required for this work. Despite his expertise in language,” he still describes the nerves of speaking Yup’ik around elders for fear of “saying the wrong word.”
Yet, it is this exact relationship with elders—collaborating with them to verify spellings and meanings—that forms the backbone of his work. He views language not just as a tool for communication, but as a unique worldview that English simply cannot replicate.
“Some things can only be said correctly and fully in your Native tongue; English just doesn’t have the room for the nuance.”
A Call to Action for Native Youth
Wiseman’s message to the next generation is one of self-reliance and urgency. He challenges youth to stop waiting for “the experts” to save the language and instead:
- Ask your parents and elders questions now.
- Shovel the path yourself if you have to.
- Stand up and walk toward your heritage.
Watch the full episode of Native Bidaské airing March 6 at 12 PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, and NativeNewsOnline.net – https://nativenewsonline.net/uncategorized/native-bidaske/Watch past Native Bidaské episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/@NativeNewsOnline/streams
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