Knowing Who You Are (Becoming): The Alaska Native Cultural Identity Project – Sara Buckingham

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Cultural identity is critical to who we are. It supports our well-being across all aspects of our lives, including our persistence and performance in educational settings. However, colonization and its forces, past and present, have sought to oppress Indigenous cultures, including the many cultures of Alaska Native people. Such forces are apparent in higher education, where many Alaska Native students feel othered and are more likely to withdraw without a degree than their non-Native counterparts. Knowing Who You Are (Becoming): The Alaska Native Cultural Identity Project (CIP) was developed from best available scientific literature, local data from Alaska Native students, and traditional wisdom from Alaska Native Elders of diverse cultural backgrounds to support cultural identity development of Alaska Native university students. The Elder-led program incorporates storytelling, experiential learning, connection, exploration, and sharing of identity and cultural strengths to help students remain grounded in their cultures across settings.

Originally implemented remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic at the University of Alaska Anchorage, this presentation will cover the components of the CIP program through experiential learning activities. We will also discuss the program’s positive impacts on psychosocial outcomes for the 44 Alaska Native students who participated in the first two cycles of its implementation. Finally, we will explore how educational settings can embed elements of CIP in their settings.