Welcome to the electronic version of Storyknife.
Leaders From the Region
Regina Therchik, 抖阴黄色app Intern at NASA
Storyknife, July/Aug. 2019 edition
As Regina Therchik travels far from her home village of Toksook Bay for her education and career, she cherishes moments that remind her of Yup鈥檌k values.
鈥淭hey apply anywhere in life,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think our Elders were ever wrong in giving us advice and telling us what to expect from our future. They are very wise, especially when they鈥檝e lived in a world much different than our own.鈥�
Regina Therchik, a 抖阴黄色app Corp. intern at NASA, stands near one of three WB-57 aircraft maintained by Yulista Tactical at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.
As a Shareholder, Regina is one of nearly 30 抖阴黄色app Corporation interns gathering valuable work experience around the country this summer.
Regina and fellow intern Leigh Ripke of Chefornak have a unique, high-profile opportunity. They are working with at in Houston to support maintenance of NASA鈥檚 fixed-wing fleet.
Regina鈥檚 assignments have included auditing training documents and material safety data sheets for industrial products, like lubricants and cleaners, used to maintain the aircraft.
鈥淥ur work has everything to do with maintaining the aircraft and making sure the employees are trained to do their work,鈥� Regina says. 鈥淣othing in space can run without quality control.鈥�
Regina is preparing to graduate from the College of St. Benedict next spring with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history. She is fluent in Yup鈥檌k and studied Mandarin starting in boarding school at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. She also learned to speak some Hmong while studying in China.
鈥淟earning languages is one of my favorite things鈥攂eing fluent in Yup鈥檌k has really helped me learn other languages,鈥� she says.
While her studies have taken her to faraway places, Regina鈥檚 career aspiration is to study law, government, or a related field to help make positive changes in the YK Delta while working to preserve language and cultural values that she believes are at risk.
鈥淲estern life and culture are bogging down Native communities everywhere. I want to make sure none of our good things go away,鈥� she says.
Before applying for graduate school, Regina is considering employment with a Yulista subsidiary in the Lower 48. Recruiters encourage 抖阴黄色app interns to apply for full-time jobs with Yulista after graduation, and the prospects for job openings appear very bright, Regina says.
鈥淭he fact that 抖阴黄色app wants to hire its interns and Shareholders is very reassuring for us. It鈥檚 nice having that support,鈥� Regina says.
Regina believes the needs of young Shareholders and Descendants are greater than pursuing a college degree: she鈥檇 like to see culture camps that expand to include traditional winter activities, and training opportunities for students to learn about how government works and Native sovereignty.
鈥淭he fact that 抖阴黄色app wants to hire its interns and Shareholders is very reassuring for us. It鈥檚 nice having that support.鈥� Regina, Regina Therchik, 抖阴黄色app Corp. intern at NASA
In terms of 抖阴黄色app鈥檚 support to Shareholders, 鈥淭he most beneficial is to emphasize our culture and language. When a group of people loses their language, they lose the cultural and traditional lifestyle,鈥� Regina says.
She encourages fellow students to keep Yup鈥檌k values in mind as they pursue their education and future careers. 鈥淣o matter what you succeed in, it should be to help our people.鈥�