JOSEPH ISAAC AMIK

“Yup’ik is my first language. I had to go to school to learn English. I grew up in Kipnuk. In my grade-school days, I had to write a page on why I was glad to be bilingual. The reason why I was glad to be bilingual was, I could speak our native language at home with my grandparents, my parents, and my siblings. At school, I could speak English. My older brother and sister can speak Yup’ik; it was passed on. I have been a teacher for two years. I followed my girlfriend here. I met the staff at the school, and eventually went back home. She had heard there was a job opening for the high school Yup’ik teacher position. I was back home when she called me and told me about the position and asked me if I wanted to apply. I asked her how was I going to apply if I am over here. She said she had the application with her. We were on the phone, and she filled out the information. And I had to fly in to sign it. There was me and another local person who had applied. We both interviewed with the staff. A day or two later they called me and told me they chose the local person because he knew the local dialect. The dialect is similar to the Kipnuk [area dialect], but some of the words are different. They chose him and wanted me to be a sub [substitute teacher] for him because he was a Council Member too. After a month, he resigned. I subbed for awhile longer. Then in April, they hired me, and I took over. Now this is my second year.
I had a Yup’ik teacher in high school. Since Yup’ik is my first language, and I have been hearing from our elders that we should keep our language and pass it down to our children, that made me want to be a Yup’ik teacher.” — Joseph Isaac Amik is Yup’ik and lives in Alakanuk, Alaska.