NOVEMBER 5, 1944

INUPIAQ LINGUIST/ANTHROPOLOGIST EDNA AGHEAK MACLEAN BORN

Born in Barrow (now Utqiaġvik), Alaska, Edna was punished for speaking Iñupiaq at school. She entered the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), but earned her Bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado Women’s College, Denver, and her teaching certificate from University of California, Berkeley (1969). From 1976-87, Edna rose to Associate Professor at UAF teaching Iñupiaq & developing a related degree program while publishing an Iñupiaq dictionary (1981) & grammar book (1986). Edna was Special Assistant for Rural & Alaska Native Education to the Commissioner of Education (1987-90) before receiving a Master’s degree (Bilingual Education) from University of Washington (1991) & Ph.D. (Education) from Stanford (1995). From 1995-2005, Edna was President, Iḷisaġvik College. Awards: Citizen of the Year, Alaska Federation of Natives (2005); Distinguished Service to the Humanities, Governor of Alaska (2006); and Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame (2018).  Edna lives in Anchorage.

Sources:  
“Edna MacLean,” Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1/6/2024, https://www.alaskawomenshalloffame.org/alumnae/edna-maclean-ph-d/
“Edna MacLean,” University of Alaska Fairbanks.   Retrieved 1/6/2024, https://www.uaf.edu/centennial/uaf100/maclean.php
Wikipedia
Photo:  Courtesy of Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame