They Just Want Everything: Results of a Bilingual Education Needs Assessment in Southwestern Alaska.

This paper traces the history and development of Yupik, the first language for almost 14,000 Native Alaskans, and reports findings of the Bilingual/Bicultural Needs Assessment survey conducted in 1983. Yupik remains one of the strongest Native American languages, despite historical factors that have increased English usage among Native Alaskans. Increasingly, Yupik is associated only with past traditions. Concern for the viability of the language has given rise to Yupik revitalization efforts, including a renewed focus on bilingual education. Although it means different things to different people, the issue of bilingual education is closely linked to local autonomy in questions of land use, social services, and health care. The issue is often seen not just as one of educational policy, but as an all-encompassing social policy and, thus, has fallen victim to ambivalence and shifting priorities. The survey questioned Yupik and non-Yupik students, school staff, and "other important adults"--a total sample of 2,192 persons--about bilingual education needs and demands. Results revealed inter- and intracultural disagreement on the issue. Most students (54%) and other important adults (62%) wanted equal time for the two languages, but 64% of staff members wanted more English than Yupik. The report concludes that, while there was general support for bilingual education, educators and the surrounding community are split on the emphasis of course content. The report suggests that policies based on the belief that monolingualism is inevitable, could end as self-fulfilling prophesies. This paper contains 15 references. (TES)