Resumen de Tlingit Language Immersion Retreats: Creating New Language Habitat for the Twenty-First Century

D. Roy Mitchell

• Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI), an Alaska Native nonprofit corporation, operated three Tlingit language immersion retreats in 2002 and 2003, wherein we aimed to create a habitat for 100% Tlingit language use. I present an overview of how SHI organized and operated these retreats, along with discussion of challenges that occurred, especially: catering to learners of different levels of language ability, the pressures to use English, and addressing interpersonal conflicts when language abilities are limited.