Indianz.Com > News > Native America Calling: When language translations go wrong
Native America Calling
Listen to Native America Calling every weekday at 1pm Eastern.
Native America Calling: When language translations go wrong
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
When language translations go wrong
The federal government issued translations on official documents to help Alaska Natives following destructive storms there.
The trouble is, the text is indecipherable for those it was intended to help. An investigative report found the Iñupiaq and Yup’ik translations from FEMA are essentially unreadable for those familiar with the languages.
One appears to be at least partly taken from a World War Two-era publication in the Soviet Union.
Guests on Native America Calling
Today on Native America Calling, we’ll check in with:
Tara Sweeney (Inupiaq), Principal and CEO of Tack 71 Strategies and former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of Interior
Julia Jimmie (Yup’ik), translator and Yup’ik language programming producer
Sam Berlin (Yup’ik), translator and KYUK talk show host
Gary Houlton, linguist
Emily Schwing, freelance reporter based in Alaska.
Search
Filed Under
Tags
More Headlines
Montana Free Press: Native lawmaker breaks silence on sexual misconduct and resumes campaign for Congress
Native America Callling: Native Fashion Week takes root in Santa Fe
Native America Callling: Tribes try to stay ahead of prediction markets on sports betting
Montana Free Press: Native lawmaker removed from committees over sexual misconduct allegations
Native America Callling: Alaska MMIW case exemplifies lingering distrust in law enforcement motivations
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know This Week (May 4, 2026)
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation preserves tribal history
Native America Callling: Demands for action grow as details of Indigenous surveillance program surface
Native America Callling: Efforts to improve Native student achievement under fire
VIDEO: Chairman Ken Choke of Nisqually Tribe | H.R.7515 | Clear Creek Hatchery
Native America Callling: Reflecting on the milestone pipeline protest movement at Standing Rock
Native America Callling: Traditional diet success and the first Indigenous ‘Chopped’ champion
Native America Callling: Oklahoma tribes work to keep Medicaid access intact as federal cuts loom
Tom Cole: Political rhetoric has gotten out of hand
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know This Week (April 27, 2026)
More Headlines
Native America Callling: Native Fashion Week takes root in Santa Fe
Native America Callling: Tribes try to stay ahead of prediction markets on sports betting
Montana Free Press: Native lawmaker removed from committees over sexual misconduct allegations
Native America Callling: Alaska MMIW case exemplifies lingering distrust in law enforcement motivations
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know This Week (May 4, 2026)
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation preserves tribal history
Native America Callling: Demands for action grow as details of Indigenous surveillance program surface
Native America Callling: Efforts to improve Native student achievement under fire
VIDEO: Chairman Ken Choke of Nisqually Tribe | H.R.7515 | Clear Creek Hatchery
Native America Callling: Reflecting on the milestone pipeline protest movement at Standing Rock
Native America Callling: Traditional diet success and the first Indigenous ‘Chopped’ champion
Native America Callling: Oklahoma tribes work to keep Medicaid access intact as federal cuts loom
Tom Cole: Political rhetoric has gotten out of hand
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know This Week (April 27, 2026)
More Headlines