Why Saint Michael?

The short film discusses the renaming of places in Alaska by colonists, which replaced the original names used by the Yup’ik people prior to 1776. Place names were often based on descriptions of the location or its resources. The film highlights the impact of the Russian invasion, gold rush, and statehood on the changing of place names in Alaska. However, some places have since returned to their original Indigenous names as a way to honor history and the Yup’ik people.

Workshop Info

In this professional development course, educators received comprehensive support to engage students in documentary filmmaking. Participants learned how to utilize primary sources from the Library of Congress and incorporated local resources such as Elder interviews, artifacts, photos, and documents. This training equipped teachers with the tools to create enriching, historically grounded educational experiences through the art of documentary filmmaking.

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Land Acknowledgement

This video was filmed on Yup'ik/Cup'ik Land. Learn more about land acknowledgements at native-land.ca.