Victoria Carlson, Yurok/Tolowa
Yurok Language Dept Director, vcarlson@yuroktribe.nsn.us
ext. 2002 

Nek 'new Victoria Carlson. Srey-gon 'ne-mew'. 'Ne-chek 'wew Noreen Jones. 'Neyp-sech 'wew Harold Jones. 'Ne-kue-chos 'wew 'aa-wok Josephine James. 'Ne-peech-o-wos 'wew 'aa-wok Jimmie "Toe" James. Kol' hoh-kue-mek' Yurok Language Dept Director. 

-raised with grandparents who were first-language, fluent Yurok speakers
-worked with Yurok first-language speakers before they made their long journeys and believes it is part of  her responsibility to carry on and teach those who strive to learn Yurok language and Indigenous ways of life
-1999: hosted Yurok language classes at Crescent City NCIDC with Barbara McQuillen and 'aa-wok Archie Thompson and Walt McCovey, Jr.
-was exposed to a variety of first-language, fluent speakers growing up
-1993: learned Yurok language at Hoopa Valley Elementary with 'aa-wok Patti Gibbens
-attended community language classes with 'aa-wok  Archie Thompson, Jimmie James, Josephine James, Aileen Figueroa, Walter McCovey, Jr., Georgiana Trull, Ollie Foseide
-community language teacher
-taught at Margaret Keating Elementary
-taught at Margaret Keating Elementary after-school program

-substitute taught at Klamath River Early College of the Redwoods (KRECR)
-2007: received  recognition as a "Keeper of the Language" from the Yurok Tribe
-advocate, learner, and teacher of the Yurok language.
-B.A. in Native American Studies, Humboldt State University
-Current manager of the Yurok Language Program and Project Coordinator for the Yurok Native Languages and Community Coordination (NLCC) project "Kee Laa-yo-lue-mehl"
-2001: former Yurok Language Curriculum Specialist
-2004: former Yurok Language Specialist
-2006: former Apprentice in Yurok Tribe Master/Apprentice program with grandfather 'aa-wok Jimmie James

Barbara McQuillen, Yurok/Tolowa
Yurok Language Dept Collections Coordinator & Lead Teacher, bmcquillen@yuroktribe.nsn.us 

Nek 'new Barbara McQuillen. Tue-rep 'e-see 'En-chwoh (Big Flat) 'ne-mew'. 'Ne-chek 'wew 'aa-wok Betty. 'Neyp-sech 'wew 'aa-wok Jim McQuillen, Sr. 'Ne-kue-chos 'wew 'aa-wok Ida James (Jaynes). 'Ne-peech-o-wos 'wew 'aa-wok Ike James. Kol' hoh-kue-mek' Yurok Language Dept Collections Coordinator. 

-Worked with first-language Yurok speakers in documenting language, developing the Yurok writing system
-Helped to initiate the annual Yurok language Immersion Camp with first-language speakers
-received recognition as a "Keeper of the Language" from the Yurok Tribe
-Conducted community language classes with Yurok first-language speaker support and guidance
-1996 : Master Apprentice Program participant with Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival (AICLS) for 3 years with mother 'aa-wok Betty McQuillen
-1996 : Started working in Yurok Language Program with Carole Lewis under ANA planning grant
-Earned Level 3 Yurok Language Teaching Credential
-former Language Coordinator
-taught at Klamath River Early College of the Redwoods (KRECR)
-Yurok Language Teacher, Del Norte High School
-Yurok Langauge Teacher, Crescent Elk
-taught Yurok language at Yurok Tribe Head Start
-taught Yurok language at Margaret Keating Elementary School
-Yurok community language teacher
-former Pod Facilitator, Yurok Language Program
-Live Your Language Alliance (LYLA) member
-Cultural Consultant for Red Deer teaching language as a way for those in recovery to connect with their culture  

James Gensaw, Yurok/Tolowa
Yurok Language Dept Cultural Coordinator, jamesgensaw@yuroktribe.nsn.us

Nek 'new James Gensaw. Rek-woy 'ne-mew'. 'Ne-too'-meyr Gensaws, Sandersons, 'e-see Whipples. Kol' hoh-kue-mek' Yurok Language Cultural Coordinator. 

-began language work in 2006
-first, beloved teacher was 'aa-wok Archie Thompson
-received recognition as a "Keeper of the Language" from the Yurok Tribe
-current teacher at McKinleyville and Eureka High Schools
-taught at  Klamath River Early College of the Redwoods (KRECR)
-earned Level 3 Yurok language credential
-former Pod Facilitator, Yurok Language Program
-Yurok community language teacher
-Live Your Language Alliance (LYLA) member
-Language Consultant for Yurok Tribe Social Services, Red Deer, Two Feathers Native American Family Services
-2026 American Indian/Alaska Native Human Rights Award recipient, presented by the California Teachers Association

Brit Vigil-Burbank, Yurok/Hupa/Tolowa
Yurok Language Dept Distance Learning Coordinator, bvigil@yuroktribe.nsn.us

Nek 'new Brittany Vigil-Burbank. Pek-won 'e-see 'O'-ket'-oh 'e-see Me'dildin 'ne-mew'. 'Ne-kue-chos w'ew Jacque Winter, Lori (Hunter) Dorsey, 'e-see Nadine Vigil. 'Ne-peech-o-wos 'wew Don Winter, David Vigil, Sr. 'Ne-chek 'wew Tami (Fletcher) Lara. Ho 'neyp-sech 'wew 'aa-wok Davey Vigil, Jr. 'Nuuek-soh 'wew Kulani, Ikaika, 'e-see Kealoha Burbank. 'Ne-nos 'wew Keoki Burbank. Kol' hoh-kue-mek' Yurok Tribe Language Dept Distance Learning Coordinator.

-2002 : began learning Yurok at HVHS under Teacher Kay Inong
-2008 : Yurok Language Program intern under Coordinator Carole Lewis
-Former Yurok Language Teacher, Hoopa Valley High School
-Master/Apprentice team member, Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival (AICLS)
-Former Teacher Intern, Yurok Language Program
-Former Pod Participant, Yurok Language Program
-Live Your Language Alliance (LYLA) member
-Warrior Institute Team Member
-2014-2015 :  Hupa Language Program, Early Childhood Language Curriculum Specialist
-Language Consultant for Hupa Language Program, Yurok Tribal Courts, Two Feathers Native American Family Services, Red Deer, Blue Lake Rancheria Pathmakers Program, Tolowa  Dee-ni' Culture and Language 
-Teacher Candidate for Hupa language teaching program with Silischitawn Jackson
-2016 :  became Yurok Language Program Specialist for the Yurok Tribe
-2017 : earned Yurok Language Level 3 Teaching Credential, Yurok Tribe/CCTC
-2021 : Learn Yurok Online teacher, Yurok Cohort Teacher, Yurok Phonics Teacher, Big Lagoon Family Language Learning, Circle Time Songs
-B.A. Native American Studies Language  & Literature, Humboldt State University
-2017 : M.S. Educational and Instructional Technology 

Nicole Peters, Yurok/Hupa/Tolowa
Yurok Language Dept Collections Specialist, nipeters@yuroktribe.nsn.us

My first memory of language in the home was of my late grandmother, Betty McQuillen, who would scold us for crying/whining, use general terms for items/actions around the home, and sing songs to us. For the past 20 years, I have learned Yurok from many language teachers and through many different avenues. While attending Yurok Tribal Headstart as a child, we would talk about animals and sing songs. At Margaret Keating (now 'O Me-nok Learning Center), we would have weekly language sessions. I attended Crescent City language classes, and during the summers, I attended several Yurok language camps! Later, I took Yurok at Del Norte High School for one year. After which, I had the opportunity to commit to Kee Laay-o-lue-mehl (a Yurok Language Teacher Credentialing Program) through the Yurok Language Program, now the YL Department, where I began more extensive language learning, including Yurok grammar. Presently, I learn on my own, through professional development with my colleagues, and through the monthly grammar workshops. I applied to work for the Yurok Language Department because it helps further my abilities to teach language to my students at McKinleyville High School. It has allowed me to build upon my skillset and grow as a language speaker and educator. I enjoy a lot of the work I get to do for the Language Department--planning and implementing cultural resource gathering trips, and infusing these events with language; sharing and creating language resources for classroom use,  and listening to the archives, to name a few.

Ke-se-loh McQuillen,  Yurok, Tolowa, Pomo, Yuki, Nomolaki
Yurok Language Department Specialist III, kesmcquillen@yuroktribe.nsn.us

Nek ‘new Kes-e-loh McQuillen. Wey-go-noy-ek’ Kese. Tue-rep, ‘En-chwoh (Big Flat), Yokayo, ‘ne-mew’. ‘Ne-check ‘wew Buffy McQuillen. ‘Neyp-sech ‘wew Raymond McQuillen. ‘Nee-nee chey ‘ne-le’y ‘wew William McQuillen. ‘Ne-cheech ‘wew Tey-wu-lauw McQuillen. ‘Ne-kue-chos ‘wew ‘aa-wok Betty McQuillen ‘e-see ‘aa-wok Pam Mitchell. ‘Ne-peech-o-wos ‘wew ’aa-wok Jim McQuillen Sr. ‘e-see Tyrone Mitchell. ‘Ne-tue-los 'wew Tissy, Mary, Barbara, Theresa, Cassandra, ‘e-see Sunnee. ‘Ne-chee-mos 'wew Jim, David, Daniel, ‘e-see Earl. Kol’ hoh-kue-mek’ Language Specialist III.

While growing up, I was able to hear language spoken occasionally with my parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. My family would share stories of my ancestors whose first language was Yurok and the language journeys of my family members who were in the process of learning Yurok. Some of my first experiences learning Yurok language was in various summer camps that I attended as a youth. When I attended high school at Del Norte, ‘ne-tue-los (my aunt) Barbara, was my first Yurok instructor and laid a strong foundation to continue growing my language abilities. After the pandemic, I moved back to Humboldt County to finish my undergraduate degree and started a position in the Education Dept. as a tutor. In this role I was able to support and eventually teach Yurok Language classes at McKinleyville High School and Eureka High School. At the end of the 2024 school year, I moved into the interim teacher position at Eureka High and currently hold this role. This role supports mine and the Yurok community's knowledge to establish and grow the Yurok Language Department's presence, which is truly important since its formation. It is important to learn Yurok because it is and should be the main form of communication for the Yurok learners. There is a painful history of language oppression and with each speaker, there is an opportunity to share the hardships and resiliency of Yurok speakers and the history. To work in the YLD allows for myself and the community to share wisdom from teachers who have a lifetime of experience. I have and will continue to appreciate and find the values in each experience, story, lesson, and conversation.

Ronni Natt, Yurok
Yurok Language Department Specialist II, rnatt@yuroktribe.nsn.us

I was raised with the Yurok Language through my family, including my parents, Brandi and Hector Natt Sr., and my elder sister, Tasheena VanMechelen.  My language learning continued through community teachings and formal Yurok Language classes with Barbara McQuillen, as well as guidance from James Gensaw Sr. and Victoria Carlson.  I work for the Yurok Language Department because I want to help make the Yurok Language known to 'Oohl.  I especially enjoy watching and learning from our collections. Seeing a group of people progress and work together for the Yurok Language is inspiring.

Thayallen Gensaw, Yurok
Yurok Language Department Collections Specialist, tgensaw@yuroktribe.nsn.us

Nek 'new Thayallen Gensaw, 'ne-mew' Rek'-woy 'e-see Noch-kow, 'ne-too'-meyr Gensaws 'e-see McCoveys. I started learning the Yurok language in middle school with Barbara McQuillen. She also taught me all throughout high school, where I received the Seal of Biliteracy. This was where I felt the importance of speaking my language. Speaking and learning Yurok gives me the ability to be connected to my people and my culture every day. Since joining the Yurok Language Department, my work has allowed me to continue to grow and share not only the language but our way of life. The way I honor my mentors and ancestors is by passing that knowledge on to others. Our language is essential and is connected to every cultural practice and world view our ancestors held, and getting to learn and share it is the highest honor.

Kapoon Tripp-James, Yurok
Yurok Language Department Admin Assistant, ktripp@yuroktribe.nsn.us

My name is Kapoon Tripp-James. I come from the villages of Ka’timiin, Asa’naamkaruk, and Pecwan. My mother is Maria Tripp, and my father is 'Aa-wok Amos Tripp. My children are Wateekwashaun and Karamachay, and I have 2 grandchildren. I grew up next door to my great-uncle, who spoke Karuk fluently, and my grandmother, who understood Karuk but never spoke it. I was raised in community, and attended weekly community Yurok Language Classes throughout my young childhood with my parents and my Yurok Grandmother. I would love to retain more of what I am learning in Yurok and have it begin to feel natural to me, so instead of attempting to translate it in my head, I am thinking about it in Yurok.