Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 8, 2026

Lance Twitchell

Lance X̱ʼunei Twitchell is an American scholar, poet, and language revitalization advocate. He works as an associate professor of Alaska Native Languages at the University of Alaska Southeast. He has written for "Molly of Denali".

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Lance X̱ʼunei Twitchell (born 1975) is an American scholar, poet, and language revitalization advocate.1 He works as an associate professor of Alaska Native Languages at the University of Alaska Southeast. He has written for "Molly of Denali".2

X̱'unei Lance Twitchell was granted tenure in the Department of Humanities, School of Arts & Sciences at the UAS Juneau Campus in 2018.3

He earned a Ph.D. in Hawaiian and indigenous language and culture revitalization from the Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a B.A. in English with a minor in American Indian studies from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.3

He serves on the state's Alaska Native Language Preservation & Advisory Council, appointed by the governor.4

Early life

Twitchell is a citizen of the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and is of Tlingit, Haida, Yup'ik, and Sámi descent.56

Awards and work

Awards

  • Top Forty Under 40 award, Alaska Journal of Commerce (2013)7
  • Judson L. Brown Leadership Award from Sealaska Heritage Institute (2016)8
  • Contributions to Literacy in Alaska (CLIA) Awards, Alaska Center for the Book (2017)9
  • First Alaskan Institute Young Native Leader Award (2020)10
  • Emmy award for “Molly of Denali” episode in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program (2025) 11

Poems

  • "Nanook Sweats," "Release, Definition: Trickster," "Ode to Tlingit, Yellow Hair Takes the Fat and We Lament His Seedy Departure," and "Dark Skin and Betraying Uncle," published in Yellow Medicine Review (Spring, 2009)
  • "Shaawatkʼeʼs Birth", co-author, filmed by Alaska Quarterly Review (2016)12

Books

  • Haa Wsineix̲ Haa Yoo X̲'atángi (Our language Saved Us): A Guidebook for Learning the Tlingit Language 13
  • Beginning Tlingit Workbook (2017) 14
  • Tlingit Reference Guide: Verbs, Grammar, Location & Direction, Concepts, Juneau, AK: Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, 2020

Chapters

  • Tlingit use of marine space: putting up fish by Caskey Russell and X̱'unei Lance Twitchell 15
References

References

  1. Hopper, Frank. "'Our Language Is Like Medicine': Tlingit Immersion School to Provide a Path to Revitalization". Indian Country Today. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  2. Hohenstatt, Ben (9 August 2019). "'Molly of Denali' drums up fun, cultural pride". Peninsula Clarion. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  3. "UAS Celebrates 2018 Faculty Promotions and Tenure". University of Alaska Southeast. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  4. "ANLPAC Report". Alaska Dept of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  5. "Keeping Alaska Native Languages Alive: Interview with Dr. X̱ʼunei Lance Twitchell". Harvard International Review. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  6. "'We are past the point of crisis'". Indian Country Today. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  7. "2013 Top Forty Under 40 Announced". Alaska Journal. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  8. Dunham, Mike (8 September 2016). "Tlingit linguist Lance Twitchell receives Judson L. Brown award". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  9. "CLIA Awards List – Alaska Center for the Book". Alaska Center for the Book. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  10. "Twitchell earns prestigious award". KINY radio. Frontier Media. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  11. Lewis, Hilary (16 March 2025). "Childrenʼs and Family Emmy Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  12. "Author Index T". Alaska Quarterly Review. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  13. Twitchell, Lance A (2016). Haa Wsineix̲ Haa Yoo X̲'atángi = Our language saved us: a guidebook for learning the Tlingit language. Juneau, Alaska: Goldbelt Heritage Institute. ISBN 978-0-692-55340-4. OCLC 952438753.
  14. Twitchell, Lance (2017). Lingít Yoo X̲'atángi = beginning Tlingit workbook (first ed.). Juneau, Alaska: Sealaska Heritage Institute. ISBN 978-1-946019-01-1. OCLC 1004520990.
  15. Allen, Bankes, Ravna (2019). The rights of indigenous people in marine areas. Oxford. ISBN 9781509928644.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)