Navigation Studies
Dear Editor: “It takes a village to raise a child” is alive and well in the Sitka School District.
For example, this year at Blatchley Middle School during the annual seventh-grade navigation unit, Alexander Allison and I had a boatload of community members who stepped up to the plate to teach navigation through a Tlingit Kiks.adi story. Many people contributed to make this happen because they care about the safety, educational growth, environmental awareness, and toughness of our Sitka students.
Seventh grade language arts teachers Alexander Allison, Emily Demmert and Janelle Farvour used the old true Kiks.adi navigation story to help students meet some of the non-fiction literature standards. Kate Mullin supported some math lessons and all BMS teachers, administrators, and staff accommodated schedule disruptions. Ben White’s support filled the navigation sails. Some seventh-grade parents sent in money to cover the discounted Allen Marine rate. Experienced captains and crew meant so much towards safety and a quality boat experience.
Four of our U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Team members split themselves between the morning and afternoon boats and encouraged the students. Roby Littlefield brought her BMS and Sitka High School Tlingit language students on the boats to help facilitate and point out Native place names from the story. Three AmeriCorps folks and some parents came on board to be team leaders.
We especially appreciated Dionne Brady Howard and her daughter Izzy who came on both trips and led the cultural part of the trip. There is something magical about hearing and singing Native songs on the water. We all got excited when “Mr. Charlie” (Charlie Skultka) took on being a team leader with all his navigation and boat-building experience! Special remembrance goes out to Vida Davis, who supported this trip every year until she passed, and all the help that Sitka Native Education Program has given over the years. Ethel Makinen was instrumental in the beginning (1997) with her support with Tlingit place names. We love what Nancy Douglas gives to the children of Sitka through all her hard work and encouraging smile. Many many thanks to the Kiks.adi people for holding on to your stories and songs and for sharing them.
Also, we could never leave the beach if Allen Marine did not support Sitka children learning navigation and parents who encourage them. Gunalcheesh to everyone in the Sitka “village” who stepped up to support our students in this 22nd year that the navigation study has been taught!
Patty Dick,
Blatchley Middle School
