Nora Dauenhauer grew up in a Tlingit family and learned to speak her native tongue as a child. Her sister, Florence Sheakley, and their brothers all speak Tlingit.

For many years, her family was among a small group of people still speaking Tlingit in Juneau. As elders in the community passed on, that group of people got smaller and smaller. In response, Nora and Florence began teaching people in the community to speak Tlingit. Over the years, interest in learning Tlingit has grown and a new crop of young adults has risen to carry this mission on to the next generation.

"It (has) molded me into who I am now," Mary Folletti said of her Tlingit studies. Folletti is from Haines, and she is a member of the Kaagwaantaan clan of the Eagle Moiety, Wolf House. Her Tlingit name is Daaljíni.

Folletti began studying Tlingit in 2001 at the University of Alaska Southeast. An instructor at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School, Folletti said she still has a lot to learn about the language, but she believes she is inspiring others to learn.

"I like to be the little fire starter - to get people interested and get other people into it," Folletti said.

Dauenhauer is thrilled to have people speak to her in Tlingit. She has been involved with studying and teaching the language since 1969. In the last three years, however, she has noticed a growth in the number of people studying the language. Last semester, Dauenhauer instructed an upper division class in Tlingit at UAS.

"It's really wonderful to be speaking Tlingit among Tlingit speakers. We really have a good time because we can say things that we can't say in English," Dauenhauer said.

The programs that are happening now throughout Southeast Alaska are no accident. According to Yarrow Vaara, the director of the Sealaska Heritage Institute's language department, the institute's board of trustees has made language revitalization one of its top priorities. The Institute has been channeling grant funds into language programs in Southeast Alaska and toward training a future generation of Native language instructors.

Their work is beginning to pay dividends. According to a recent district study, there are more than 500 students in the Juneau School District who are receiving Tlingit language instruction. And there are language classes being offered in Hoonah, Klukwan, Yakutat, Kake, Sitka and Hydaburg. Classes in Tlingit and Haida are being taught in Ketchikan schools.

During this year's Celebration, a variety of language workshops will be available to the public at Centennial Hall, for the cost of admission to Celebration: $10 per day, or $25 for all three days.

This year, classes will be offered in Tlingit and Haida. Organizers were unable to find a Tsimshian instructor.

Sealaska Heritage Institute also is offering a Latseen Leadership Camp for high school students from June 19 to Aug. 2. Students will get to choose between Tlingit or Haida and earn one college credit, or dual credit if their high school offers that option.

• Eric Stimpfle is a writer living in Juneau.

"It's really wonderful to be speaking Tlingit among Tlingit speakers. We really have a good time because we can say things that we can't say in English," Dauenhauer said.

The programs that are happening now throughout Southeast Alaska are no accident. According to Yarrow Vaara, the director of the Sealaska Heritage Institute's language department, the institute's board of trustees has made language revitalization one of its top priorities. The Institute has been channeling grant funds into language programs in Southeast Alaska and toward training a future generation of Native language instructors.

Their work is beginning to pay dividends. According to a recent district study, there are more than 500 students in the Juneau School District who are receiving Tlingit language instruction. And there are language classes being offered in Hoonah, Klukwan, Yakutat, Kake, Sitka and Hydaburg. Classes in Tlingit and Haida are being taught in Ketchikan schools.

During this year's Celebration, a variety of language workshops will be available to the public at Centennial Hall, for the cost of admission to Celebration: $10 per day, or $25 for all three days.

This year, classes will be offered in Tlingit and Haida. Organizers were unable to find a Tsimshian instructor.

Sealaska Heritage Institute also is offering a Latseen Leadership Camp for high school students from June 19 to Aug. 2. Students will get to choose between Tlingit or Haida and earn one college credit, or dual credit if their high school offers that option.

• Erik Stimpfle is a writer living in Juneau.