I’ve recently created the first draft of an Indigenous Style Writing Guide, which will act as a standard for FWS communication products to be considerate of an Indigenous audience. I’m still working on a purpose statement to see if this guide is meant for Alaska Native peoples or Indigenous peoples as a whole, but so far it’s separated into sections about describing people, land, wildlife, and practices.

There are many nuances I learned about. For example, “Alaska Native peoples” is preferable to “Alaska Natives”, and an “Alaskan native” refers to someone who was born in Alaska but isn’t Indigenous. “Native, Indigenous, Tribe,” and “Tribal” are always capitalized when in reference to Indigenous peoples and governments, but “tribe” and “tribal” become common nouns if they’re not referring to a specific nation. It’s also important to think about the connotations of word choices and what a writer’s intentions are before using them.

If someone’s initial idea is to describe rural land as “primitive, pristine, untouched, untamed, pure” or “a last frontier”, they should think about what the implications of these words are. Is the land pristine and untouched, or have Indigenous peoples been living there for thousands of years? Is it primitive, or does colonial thought underestimate the original people of the land and their traditional stewardship? It’s crucial to be intentional about our language, and overall it’s best to avoid words that try to mystify or exoticize the land.

This work is a collective effort of previous guides, the FWS Indigenous Employees group, and my colleagues in External Affairs. It will be a living document subject to change long after I’ve left the fellowship, and I hope to see its influence not only within the Service but academia as well. Coursework that teaches park management, conservation, forestry, or any area that relies on stewarding the land will inevitably include the original stewards of the land, and their language will need to be appropriate and respectful when they do.

My fellowship is about to come to an end next Friday. I’ve received greater clarity on my education and career path, and as of now, I plan to pursue a master’s in Environmental Science and eventually become a Native American liaison. I do hope to travel to Alaska after my fellowship to finally meet my colleagues and mentors, and it’s thanks to them that I feel fulfilled in the connections and knowledge I’ve gained.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Alaska Regional Office