The life history interviews will take about 8 to 10 hours and will take place over 2 to 3 days. Participants can be interviewed in their villages, in regional centers or in Fairbanks or Anchorage, whichever is best for the participant. Phase one of the People Awakening Project will be statewide with all Alaska Native groups, but phase two will take place only in the Yukon-Kuskokwim and Bristol Bay regions. Phase two Survey interviews will be used in phase two of the project to measure strengths important for sobriety among 250 Yup'ik people. Phase two will measure strengths identified in phase one life histories.
Participants can choose either an interview or a survey form.
Culturally appropriate research methods will be developed with assistance from local cultural experts, including Elders. A local coordinator who is fluent in Yup'ik will direct the project in this region in collaboration with Elders, villages, the project coordinating council and university researchers. Local interviewers will be hired. People in both phases of the study will receive a small payment for their participation. Progress reports and other news about the project will be communicated via regular editions of a newsletter.