The essay below by Nanugaq Layla Kashatok from Kuigilnguq describes her experience learning Yugtun. When she and her young sister moved to Kuigilnguq, with the help of their mother and the Yugtun teachers at Kuig they were able to learn to speak, read, and write in Yugtun.
Nanugaq has taken three years of Yup'ik Orthography and plans to take Yup'ik Orthography 4 this spring before she graduates (this class is offered as a dual 3 credit UAF YUP 208 class). She is currently enrolled in Yup'ik Orthography III and taking it as a dual 3 credit UAF YUP 240.
Nanugaq has passed her Worldspeak Yup'ik language test and is on road to receiving her Seal of Biliteracy (In Yup'ik and English) certificate upon graduation.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Nanugaq!
Yugtun Qaneryaramta Arcaqaucia
Wani igamni qalarteqatartua elitellemnek Yugtun qaneryaramtenek arcaqaucia-llu. Cakneq man’a qaneryaraput arcaqertuq wangkuta-wa yugni una qaneryaraq pikngamteggu. Nayagaqa-llu miktellemnuk Yugtun qalarcesciigatellruukuk qiitevtaqlunuk-llu kiingan. Ta͡ugaam aanama maurluma-llu cingumangnaq’larakut Yugtun qalarcesqelluta. Maa-irpak mikelnguut qanyuirutut Yugtun, kiingan qiitevtaqluteng. Yugtun qaneryaraq kinguvarnarqaput kinguliamtenun cingumangnaqluki-llu Yugtun qanaasqelluki. Tamamta elicugngaukut ak’a tua-i wangkuk nayagaqa-llu elitellruamegnuk.
Maavet Kuigilngurmun upallemteni Qipnermek nayagaqa-llu yugtun nallumciqellruukuk. Igasciiganii wall’ naaqisciiganii cakviuraqlua-llu qalarutaqatnga Yugtun. Taringyugyaaqaqlua yugnikma qalartellrinek cauciitaqlua cakneq. Tuall’ nayagaqa-llu qitevtaqamnuk aanama pickle juice-avkalallruakuk asiilkelluku-llu cakneq. Pickle juice-aryumiilamnuk Yugtun qalartelangellruukuk taringlanglunuk-llu. Elitnauristema cakneq ta͡ugaam ikayulallruanga qaneryaramtenek elitellemnek-llu. Pingayunek wii nayagangqertua cingumangnaqlaranka-llu Yugtun qalarcesqelluki qaneryaraput tamaasqevkenaku.
Yugtun qaneryaraput arcaqertuq. Maa-irpak amlleret qanyuirutut Yugtun qitevquryaurrluteng-llu. Arcaqertuq qaneryaraput wangkuta-wa pikngamteggu kass’aunrilamta-llu. Yugtun qaneryaraq piciryaramta ilaakaa uuggun-llu wangkuta qalarcetuukut. Tamariinartuq-llu qaneryaraput taumek arcaqalria cagmanritlerkaa taumek cingumangnaq’laraput mikelnguut. Allat tua-i qaneryarangqertut wangkuta ta͡ugaam man’a pikaput.
Ayagyuanun mikelngurnun-llu Yugtun qaneryaraq atuusqumauq. Tamamta elicugngaukut waten Yugtun qanerturqumta pinircarciqaput-llu qaneryugngallerput. Waten-llu qitevvluta ayagturluta pikumta qaneryaraput tamarciquq. Ilaput Yugtun qaneryaramtenek cingumangnaqkumteki piugngaut assirciquq-llu tua-i. Yugtun qalarcesqumalaranka ayagyuat cagmanritlerkaa tekisngaitniaraput. Wangkuta man’a pikaput tamaryaqunaciu.
Nanugaq Layla Kashatok
Kuigilnguq, Alaska