Committee chair, Mike Travis has announced that Rachel Riley, Inupiat Teacher in Anaktuvuk Pass, has been selected Bilingual Educator of the year.  He will present Rachel Riley with this award at the AKABE luncheon on February 11, in the Howard Rock Ballroom of the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. Rachel found out that she had won the award in January from principal David Sharstrom. She said she couldn't believe she had won, and she was very happy.

Rachel was born March 5th, 1941 at a place called Killik - which is about 70 miles west of Anaktuvuk Pass. Over the years she has traveled throughout the state for training and conferences. She has been the Inupiat Language teacher at Nunamiut School in Anaktuvuk Pass for the past 16 years.  During that time she has been an advocate of trying to preserve the language and culture of the people of Anaktuvuk Pass that she was fortunate to learn firsthand. Rachel says that teaching the Inupiat language is becoming more difficult each year, since the new generation of students are becoming interested in the modern ways of society.  However, she will always remind her students that it is critical that they as a people remain closely tied to the land and its subsistence life style. When asked about her main motivation she said it is to, "keep our culture and our way of life alive."

Not only has Rachel Riley been a life long resident of Anaktuvuk Pass and an educator, but she's also been an active member of her community.  She has been involved in the follow activities over the years: the local SAC, Health Board, Nunamiut Corporation, Recreation Department, Search and Rescue, and as an Elder of the Church.  She currently holds positions on the IHLC Commission and Subsistence Commission.  Rachel was instrumental in developing a survival spring camp for her Inupiat students until this was discontinued due to lack of funding. Mike Travis believes that Rachel is a walking textbook that helps keep many of the oral traditions alive in the minds of her students. Lets all congratulate Rachel for a job well done.