Small steps for toddlers, giant steps for learning Inupiaq

Words matter a lot on Alaska’s North Slope. That’s why the town of Barrow recently voted narrowly to change its name to Utqiaġvik, the Inupiaq name for the community.
Some elders say it means “place where you gather roots.”
While there’s a lot of debate about going back to the community’s original name, the word seems to resonate with those who are passionate about returning to their culture’s roots – its language.
The Ilisagvik College runs a