Donna May Roberts (Shuguyna)and her husband Tony (Hukdsab) were married in the Duncan Memorial Church in 1962. Donna May, raised by her pioneer Dsea is of the Gganhaada and Tony, of Cree and Mandan heritage, was adopted into the Lack-giboo. They have one son, Joseph, married to Kathy and two granddaughters Kayla and Megan.

Many years ago, while working on projects for the Metlakatla Indian Community and the Ketchikan Indian Corporation, they were able to produce an orthography for Shm'algyack, The True Language, that has become the curriculum for their teaching and all of the related materials. It has been accepted by MIC, KIC, SHI and the University of Alaska.

The combination of Donna May's background as a music teacher and linguist of her language and with Tony's computer layout and history work, they have created a very unique teaching curriculum called, "Language By Osmosis." With the aid of TPR it is used for the preservation of the 'Tsmshian culture.

In their ongoing quest to bring understanding to the use of the language they try to remind people that they may be 'Tsmshian, but the language they speak is Shm'algyack.

As a Non-profit program, they continue to teach and produce materials to enable those interested in the preservation of the Language.

Also, it is their firm belief that:   "As the Language goes, so goes the Culture."

Therefore, to represent their efforts they have adopted the first part of their Mission Statement, Dum Baaldum® - We Will Try, as the registered name of their endeavor.

Shaaamdza waan. . . .