Voices of Lived Experience: Maintaining Cultural Connections

Hear from Maria Guerra from Kenaitze Tribe on how to maintain and encourage cultural connections for children in your care.

• Presented by Maria Guerra, Kenaitze Tribe
• Format: self study via audio
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Connecting generations through culture

Learn how communities and programs intentionally or naturally allow for generations to interact and learn from one another. Understand the importance of creating connections across generations as a means to increased well-being and resiliency for everyone.

• Presented by Ella Tonuchuk and Dewey Hoffman, First Alaskans Institute; Wilma Bell-Joe, AmeriCorps BIRCH and Native Survivors Youth Group adviser; and Jake Bell, Chilkoot Indian Association Tribal Youth Program
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Culture and race

Learn about the concepts of culture and race and what you need to know about cultural continuity and awareness.

• Presented by Dennis Swain, Knowing Who You Are
• Format: self-study via audio
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Cultural continuity for youth

Learn about how to support youth in care by maintaining roots, part one.

• Presented by Alaska Center for Resource Families, Billie Jo Kipp, Ph.D., Center for Native American Youth at Aspen Institute
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Cultural approaches to permanency

Part one: What did cultural permanency look like?

Understand cultural approaches to permanency, part one.

• Panel members: Jeri Museth, Raven Hunter, Judy Franklet, Miriam Titus
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Part two: Relationships with OCS, ACRF, and Tribes

Understand cultural approaches to permanency, part two.

• Panel Members: Haley High, Sandra Mulkey, Barbara Cosolito, and Rachel Hanft
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Part three: Cultural adoption vs. Tribal adoption

Understand cultural approaches to permanency, part three.

• Presented by Holly Handler
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Part four: Why pursue guardianship

Understand cultural approaches to permanency, part four.

• Panel Members: Lenora Walker, Cindy Mills, and Mishal Gaede
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Part five: Recruitment and retention of resource families

Understand cultural approaches to permanency, part five.

• Interactive session
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Foster care tips: Caring for African American hair

Understand the importance of learning how to care for the hair of African American children in your care.

• Presented by CK Family Services
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: .5 hours

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Foster parents working with Tribes

Learn how foster parents can work with Tribes if they are caring for an Alaska Native Child.

• Presented by Tara Pickett, OCS
• Format: self-study via audio
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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How to talk to kids about culture

Learn key steps and strategies for how to talk to children in your care about culture.

• Presented by Family Lives
• Format: self-study via webpage
• Training hours awarded on completion: .5 hours

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Keeping cultural connections for children in care

Part one: Talking about culture, ethnicity, and race

Learn about the importance of keeping cultural connections for children in care, part one.

• Presented by Rachel Hanft, Casey Groat, and Tasha Yatchmeneff
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1.5 hours

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Part two: Elements of culture within an Indigenous framework in child welfare

Learn about the importance of keeping cultural connections for children in care, part two.

• Presented by Jessica Ullrich, UAA
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1.5 hours

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Part three: Talking to children about culture and identity

Learn about the importance of keeping cultural connections for children in care, part three.

• Presented by Brianna Gray, FNSB School District
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1.5 hours

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Part four: From a family's view, family values regarding culture

Learn about the importance of keeping cultural connections for children in care, part four.

• Parent panel discussion
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1.5 hours

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Part five: Preserving and nurturing cultural connections

Learn about the importance of keeping cultural connections for children in care, part five.

• Presented by Carol Edwards
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1.5 hours

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Part six: A snapshot of Alaska Native cultures and history

Learn about the importance of keeping cultural connections for children in care, part six.

• Presented by Kayla Cox, Alaska Native Justice Center
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1.5 hours

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Part seven: The Alaska blanket exercise

Learn about the importance of keeping cultural connections for children in care, part seven.

• Presented by Jaclynne “Qalukisaq” Richards, Jackie Engebretson, Rachel Hanft
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1.5 hours

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Part eight: Pivoting for support, education yourself and your child

Learn about the importance of keeping cultural connections for children in care, part eight.

• Presented by Cyndi Smith and Stephen Adams, Knik Indian Tribe
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1.5 hours

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Navigating the holidays with youth in custody

Learn strategies for providing a safe and connected holiday season.

• Presented by Kimberly Mouriquand, Alaska Center for Resource Families
• Format: self-study via PDF reading (Tiny Training Byte series)
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Race, ethnicity, Tribes, and corporations

Learn the differences and the roles of race, ethnicity, Tribes, and corporations.

• Presented by Jessica Ullrich, Child Welfare Academy
• Format: self-study via audio
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Racism, sexism, and prejudice: A conversation on talking to your kids about equity

Learn information about talking to your kids about equity and understand the impacts of discrimination.

• Presented by Alaska Children's Trust
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Talking to children and youth about race

Learn about talking to children and youth about race.

• Resource parent panel members: Russ Pressley, Andy Romano, and Michael Schwietert
• Format: self-study via video
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Winter time fun

Learn ideas for fun winter activities that are likely to help build trusting relationships and confidence in children and families.

• Presented by Kimberly Mouriquand, Alaska Center for Resource Families
• Format: self-study via PDF reading (Tiny Training Byte series)
• Training hours awarded on completion: 1 hour

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Cultural awareness and cultural competency videos

Further your learning about cultural awareness and cultural competency, and earn .5 hours of training credit, through these additional video resources.

An introduction of Kayla Briët

Meet Kayla Briët and learn how art connects to ancestry.

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A film by Kayla Briët

"Smoke That Travels" is a personal documentary by Kayla Briët that explores preservation and loss of culture and her own identity as Prairie Band Potawatomi.

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Eighteen cultural films: Indigenous cinema in the classroom

Geared towards middle-school learners, this playlist from acclaimed filmmakers brings Indigenous cinema into the classroom in a highly accessible way. The films touch on the topics of nationhood, identity, fatherhood, heritage, colonization, and more.

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Heikima (wisdom) their history is our history

Interviews with some of the most influential long-time members of Alaska's Black community.

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Third culture kids

This short documentary film highlights some of the challenges faced by students attending international schools around the world.

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The myth of race debunked in three minutes

Learn about the concept of race from the framework of race as a social construct.

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The John Walkus story

This documentary follows John Walkus Green as he carves his way home to the community and culture he was taken from as a child.

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Cultural awareness and cultural competency publications

Further your learning about cultural awareness and cultural competency by checking out these additional, non-credit-hour publications.

Alaska Native resource guide

Understand state-wide Alaska Native resources that are available.

Download the publication.

Anchorage Native resource handbook

Learn how to keep all Native children connected to their culture and heritage. Plus information on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), definitions, cultural activities, books, educational opportunities, and resources.

Download the publication.

Alaska languages map

Learn about the regional languages in Alaska.

Download the publication.