Chugachmiut’s ACE program serves Native youth in the Chugach region, including Seward, Cordova, Valdez, Nanwalek, Port Graham, Tatitlek, and Chenega. The program is available to students in Head Start or grades K-12 enrolled in public school, homeschool, or private school. ACE provides funding to help these youth access educational opportunities they may not usually have. This includes school supplies, tutoring, SAT/ACT prep, vocational education, culture/language camps or classes, dual university enrollment, and summer camp fees.

ACE aims to provide educational opportunities to students in the Chugachmiut Service Area, including Chenega, Cordova, Nanwalek, Port Graham, Seward, Tatitlek, and Valdez, to help them meet their educational needs. This may include cultural/traditional activities, language classes (Sugt’stun, Eyak, Yup’ik), wellness and life skills (cooking, leadership development), camps (music, art, cultural), career/college prep, art classes (sewing, master artist workshops), and subsistence skills.

Requirements

• Be an enrolled member of a Tribe or an Alaska Native/American Indian living within the Chugachmiut Service Area
• Registered in grades Head Start or K-12^th grade
• Enrolled in an educational program within the Chugachmiut Service Area (public school, homeschool, charter school)
• Complete the ACE application and submit a copy of your BIA Certificate, Tribal enrollment card, or any Tribal affiliation documentation.

Note: If enrolling in a formal education program (college class, vo-tech), submit a FERPA release of information form naming Chugachmiut as the recipient of our educational records. This is sent from the program you are enrolled in.

Accessing Choices in Education (ACE) Covers

• Tutoring is available through Sylvan Learning Center, Frontier Tutoring, or North Star Tutors
• School Supplies
• Cultural Workshops
• Language Classes
• College Classes
• College Campus Visits (Available to 11th & 12th graders—contact us for details)
• Vocational Training
• Other Opportunities (e.g., Chugachmiut Youth Summit, Village Cultural Camps, Maskalataaq)

Contact
Are you interested in learning more about enrollment or applying to become a service provider? Contact us below for more information.

Email: ACE@chugachmiut.org
Phone: (907) 562-4155
Toll-free: (800) 478-4155
Toll-free Fax number: (800) 793-2891 for ACE Program
Angelina “Kalunka” Roehl, ACE Program Manager, Extension 119
Millie Taylor, ACE Administrative Assistant, Extension 179

Litnaurwik – A Place of Learning
Ilakuiluku – Sharing
Suliklluku – Cultural Pride
Pekiulleteng – Cooperation
Ling’ayugluni – Respect
Nupugneq – Language
Litnauwiluni – Teaching

Cama’i! Chugachmiut Heritage Preservation Archive will be hosting a virtual “Student Archivist” after-school program starting in October.

Students will be able to attend weekly interactive zoom classes where we will discuss what it means to be a community archivist, the importance of Indigenous voices in the historical record, and how archival work can be used to revitalize and preserve culture in our communities. On top of that, the students will conduct a semester cultural research project where they will utilize the resources available on the Chugachmiut Archive website Chugachmiut Heritage System, and interview regional Elders to gather additional traditional knowledge. Upon completion, their projects will be featured on the archive website!

There is no cost to participate, and we have iPad’s available for all students that require one! Students must be in grades 7-12, reside within the Chugach region, are of Alaska Native/Native American/Pacific Islander descent, and have access to the internet from 3:30-4:30 pm every Wednesday! If you are interested, please reach out to Dawn Randazzo to apply at dawnr@chugachmiut.org or (907)334-0128.

Download the application and apply at: Chugachmiut ACE Application 2023