Dr. Edna Ahgeak MacLean

Edna Ahgeak MacLean is truly a protector of Alaska Native languages and cultures.  She was born and raised in Barrow, Alaska. She attended the BIA Day School in Barrow until 1957; then went away for her 8th grade year to the Wrangell Institute, in Wrangell, Alaska; then progressed on to attend Mt. Edgecumbe High School, in Sitka, Alaska. After graduation from high school, she attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks for two years then headed to Colorado Women’s College in Denver where she received her BA degree; then she moved to California where she received her teaching credentials from the University of California Berkeley. Later she received an MA in bilingual education from the University of Washington, and finally a doctorate in education from Stanford University.

She has been the President of Ilisagvik College in her hometown of Barrow, Alaska since 1995.  Dr. MacLean did graduate study in Greenlandic Eskimo at Aarhus University in Denmark and was a tenured faculty member at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.  Fluent and literate in her Native language, Iñupiaq-Eskimo, North Slope Alaskan dialect, Dr. MacLean has published extensive reference materials for Iñupiaq language and culture including language curriculum and an abridged Iñupiaq and English Dictionary. 

Edna MacLean has devoted many years of distinguished service to the field of education. Named Educator of the Year 2000 by the Alaska Native Education Council, she was also twice recognized as Alaska Native Educator of the Year by the Alaska Federation of Natives in 1989 and 1996.  She served for several years as the Special Assistant for Rural and Alaska Native Education to the State of Alaska Commissioner of Education.  Dr. MacLean was appointed to the National Science Foundation Polar Programs Office Advisory Committee, 1996-1999 and elected as a Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America in recognition of her significant contributions to the knowledge of the polar and sub-polar regions, 1985.  She has been recognized by the Barrow City Council and the Ukpeabvik Iñupiaq Corporation for her many contributions to education. 

She is also a founding member and chairperson of the Consortium for Alaska Native Higher Education and a member of the steering committee for the International Cross-Cultural Education Seminar Series in the Circumpolar North.  In 2003, she was inducted into Stanford University’s Multicultural and Native American Alumni Hall of Fame as well as Women of the Village Grassroots Hall of Fame. 

Alaska Native Language Center Publications

Ataatalugiik (N,A) told by Nageak, transcribed by R. Dementieff, edited by MacLean. Traditional story. 1975 

Avaqqanam Quliaqtuaqtangik (N,A) told by F. Ahvakana, transcribed by Edna MacLean. Two traditional stories. 1975 

Avilaitqatigiik (The Two Friends) (N,P) by E. MacLean. Children?s story, programmed vocabulary. 1974 Savaaksrat I (Workbook I) (N,P) by E. MacLean. Literacy workbook for elementary students; no text. 1974 

Suva Una? (What Is It Doing?) (N,P) by E. MacLean. Beginning reader, programmed vocabulary. Revised edition. 1976 

Iñupiallu Tanngillu Uqalungisa Ilangich (Abridged Iñupiaq and English Dictionary) by E. MacLean. For classroom and general use. 1981 

Tikigagmigguuq (In Point Hope) (N,A) told by F. Ahvakana, transcribed by E. MacLean. Traditional story. 1973 

Taiguallarunga by A. Hopson and E. MacLean. 1973 

North Slope Iñupiaq Dialogues (Eng) by E. MacLean. Supplement to North Slope Iñupiaq Grammar: First Year. 1995  

Quliaqtuat Mumiaksrat: Ilisaqtuanun Savaaksriat (Eng) by E. MacLean. Fourteen short traditional stories for students to translate, with vocabulary lists. 1986 North Slope Inupiaq Grammar: Second Year (Preliminary edition for student use only) (Eng) by E. MacLean. 1995 

Savaktugut suli Piuraaqtugut: We Work and We Play, by M. Blanchett and M. Teeluk, translated into Inupiaq. E. MacLean, Editor. 1973 

Lessons and games for Inupiaq as a second language / prepared by Edna Ahgeak MacLean. Fairbanks : Alaska Native Language Center. 1974 

Other Publications

 Culture and Change for Ieupiat and Yupiks of Alaska http://www.alaskool.org/native_ed/articles/EMaclean-CC.htm, 11/17/2005 

Role Of Literature As A Source Of History, Values And Identityhttp://www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/obe/roles.html, 11/18/2005 

Inupiaq narratives : interaction of demonstratives, aspect, and tense / Edna Ahgeak MacLean. Palo Alto, Calif. : Stanford University, 1995 

Quliaqtuat mumiakskrat : iḷisaqtuanun savaaksriat / aglaangit ukua Iñuit kataałługit, Qaġġaqpak (Orson Kagak) ... [et al.] ; qiñiġaaliuqtaat, T. Webster ; agalatqiksai, Edna Ahgeak MacLean. Fairbanks : Alaska Native Language Program, College of Liberal Arts ; Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska, 1986.

Genealogical record of Barrow Eskimo families / compiled by Edna MacLean. Barrow, Alaska : Naval Arctic Research Laboratory, [197-].