Every day after lunch this semester, the Glennallen Elementary Kindergarten students came into the classroom excited for a round of games and songs with teacher Carol Cozzen. What’s special about this particular class is that the games- I Spy, Simon Says, and others - were all in Ahtna. After a semester of class, it’s now easy for the kids to rattle off colors, numbers, simple commands, body parts, and of course animals.
It is moving to hear these words in little voices, and to hear the language spoken with wiggly excitement. These kids are too young to know they are helping to preserve a language that is critically endangered.
The Kindergarten immersion is a pilot program that is a partnership between the Copper River School District (CRSD) and the Copper River Native Association (CRNA).
CRNA Language Administrator and former CRSD teacher Kirk Howard presented the idea of CRNA-funded Ahtna language instruction to the board in August 2024. The board encouraged the development of the program.
At that time, Cozzen was already in the midst of years of study. Cozzen earned an Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Ahtna Language and a Type M Language and Culture Teaching Certificate through the University of Alaska to prepare for the role.
Next year, Cozzen will follow the current Kindergarten into first grade and continue to lead them in Ahtna language immersion activities. She will also work with the new Kindergarten students.
Disclosure: Carol Cozzen is a staff photographer for CRR; CRNA is a frequent advertiser. This did not impact our decision to write up this story.
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