During production, we filmed an interview with Lance Twitchell, indigenous storyteller, linguist, and professor of Alaska Native Languages at the University of Alaska SE in Auke Bay, AK.

Lance teaches at the University of Alaska SE, and has spent most of his professional and personal career revitalizing the native Tlingit language and stories. His native names are Xh’unei (Tlingit), Du Aaní Kawdinook (Tlingit), and Kh’eijáakw (Haida).

Stories, traditions, and learning are at the heart of the oral tradition, and Raven is a key player in many of the lessons and creation stories of the Tlingit and other tribes throughout coastal and interior Alaska. By implementing education, outreach, and technology, Xh’unei enhances the revival and understanding of the Tlingit language and preserves these stories for generations to come. This develops important relationships with elders and community members in SE Alaska and around the world.