Lance Twitchell Explained

Lance X̱ʼunei Twitchell (born 1975) is an American scholar, poet, and language revitalization advocate.^[1] He works as an associate professor of Alaska Native Languages at the University of Alaska Southeast. He has written for "Molly of Denali".^[2]

X̱'unei Lance Twitchell was granted tenure in the Department of Humanities, School of Arts & Sciences at the UAS Juneau Campus in 2018.^[3]

He earned a Ph.D. in Hawaiian and indigenous language and culture revitalization from the Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a B.A. in English with a minor in American Indian studies from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.^[4]

He serves on the state's Alaska Native Language Preservation & Advisory Council, appointed by the governor. ^[5]

Early life

Twitchell is a citizen of the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and is of Tlingit, Haida, Yup'ik, and Sámi descent.^{[6] [7]}

Awards and work

Awards

• Top Forty Under 40 award, Alaska Journal of Commerce (2013)^[8]
• Judson L. Brown Leadership Award from Sealaska Heritage Institute (2016)^[9]
• Contributions to Literacy in Alaska (CLIA) Awards, Alaska Center for the Book (2017)^[10]
• First Alaskan Institute Young Native Leader Award (2020)^[11]

Poems

• "Nanook Sweats," "Release, Definition: Trickster," "Ode to Tlingit, Yellow Hair Takes the Fat and We Lament His Seedy Departure," and "Dark Skin and Betraying Uncle," published in Yellow Medicine Review (Spring, 2009)
• "Shaawatkʼeʼs Birth", co-author, filmed by Alaska Quarterly Review (2016)^[12]

Books

• Haa Wsineix̲ Haa Yoo X̲'atángi (Our language Saved Us): A Guidebook for Learning the Tlingit Language ^[13]
• Beginning Tlingit Workbook (2017) ^[14]
• Tlingit Reference Guide: Verbs, Grammar, Location & Direction, Concepts, Juneau, AK: Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, 2020

Chapters

• Tlingit use of marine space: putting up fish by Caskey Russell and X̱'unei Lance Twitchell ^[15]

Notes and References

1. News: Hopper . Frank . 'Our Language Is Like Medicine': Tlingit Immersion School to Provide a Path to Revitalization . 16 March 2021 . Indian Country Today . en.
2. News: Hohenstatt . Ben . 'Molly of Denali' drums up fun, cultural pride . 19 March 2021 . Peninsula Clarion . 9 August 2019.
3. Web site: UAS Celebrates 2018 Faculty Promotions and Tenure . University of Alaska Southeast . 18 March 2021 . en.
4. Web site: UAS Celebrates 2018 Faculty Promotions and Tenure . University of Alaska Southeast . 18 March 2021 . en.
5. Web site: ANLPAC Report . Alaska Dept of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development . 23 April 2021.
6. Web site: Keeping Alaska Native Languages Alive: Interview with Dr. X̱ʼunei Lance Twitchell . 10 April 2023 . . 2024-01-07.
7. Web site: 'We are past the point of crisis' . 30 April 2021 . . 2024-01-07.
8. News: 2013 Top Forty Under 40 Announced . 16 March 2021 . Alaska Journal . 1 February 2013 . en.
9. News: Dunham . Mike . Tlingit linguist Lance Twitchell receives Judson L. Brown award . 16 March 2021 . Anchorage Daily News . 8 September 2016.
10. Web site: CLIA Awards List – Alaska Center for the Book . Alaska Center for the Book . 13 October 2014 . 22 March 2021.
11. Web site: Twitchell earns prestigious award . KINY radio . Frontier Media . 22 March 2021 . en.
12. Web site: Author Index T . Alaska Quarterly Review . 22 March 2021.
13. Book: Twitchell . Lance A . Haa Wsineix̲ Haa Yoo X̲'atángi = Our language saved us: a guidebook for learning the Tlingit language . 2016 . Goldbelt Heritage Institute . Juneau, Alaska . 978-0-692-55340-4 . 952438753 . 22 March 2021 . English.
14. Book: Twitchell . Lance . Lingít Yoo X̲'atángi = beginning Tlingit workbook . 2017 . Sealaska Heritage Institute . Juneau, Alaska . 978-1-946019-01-1 . 1004520990 . first . 22 March 2021 . English.
15. Book: Allen, Bankes, Ravna . The rights of indigenous peoples in marine areas . 2019 . Oxford . 9781509928644.