On Tuesday, December 15th, Chairman Roger Trudell, Wyatt Thomas-Director for Circle of Excellency, Mary Johnson-Library Media Specialist-Nebraska Indian Community College and Redwing Thomas, Dakota Language Preservation/ Immersion Program Instructor (for Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska)met with the FSST Executive Committee and the Dakota Language Preservation Committee.
Members present from Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe: Chairman Joshua Weston, Vice President Cyndi Weddell, Secretary Eloise Drapeau, Treasurer Gordon Jones Jr., Trustee II Gina Williams and Trustee II Richard Allen.
Dakota Language Preservation Committee members present: Carol Robertson, Everett Weston, Kendra Burshiem, Renata Schroeppel, JB Weston and Dakota language participants Gabriel Weston and Philip Allen.
Wyatt Thomas gave a presentation to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and the purpose of their visit with us in regards to Dakota Language Preservation and the Immersion Language Program. Wyatt and Mary Johnson have been researching a two year degree in Dakota Language and the Immersion Program is the way to teach and learn a language. At the present time on their reservation only 5% speak Dakota of a population of 4600. Presently, with Redwing Thomas the instructor, they are teaching Dakota Language three days a week from 9 am to 12 pm.
Chairman Roger Trudell said he would like to see a partnership happening with their Tribe and the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and members. Chairman Trudell stated: “Our language is critical to the people. Our people have not picked up the language like we should have. Our parents were punished if they spoke Dakota in school. After World War II, the language took back seat to life styles and preferences. I did not learn to speak Dakota although it was all around me at home and in my community. My grandkids went to classes and were testing me on my knowledge of Dakota. This is great; we need to teach the children. We now have to revitalize our Dakota Language. We need to preserve our Dakota Language; we need to teach teachers in our communities. Our Immersion Program is doing quite well in our community and it really took off. We can work together and learn together and bring the language back.”
Redwing Thomas stated: “I took a two year Immersion Program for Dakota Language in 2000 at Shakopee, five days a week, eight hours a day. It was a real intense learning program. I didn’t want to lose the Dakota Language. So far, Shakopee has done only one Immersion Program. I know we have the ability to speak more than one language, our ancestors did. The effort to preserve the language needs to be made now. We need to bring our young people back into learning the language. I want to give back what I learned at Shakopee.”
Redwing continued: “The class here at Flandreau is doing well, we are all related, all one people. We need to develop speakers so the language is not totally lost. In the classes no politics are allowed and no names are spoken. Everyone is equal in the class. Solidarity is what we hope to achieve in the class. Through language a sense of purpose and identity and learning the Dakota way happens.”
Mary Johnson spoke of the college’s Memorandum of Understanding with the students who enter the Dakota Language class. Mary also spoke of grant opportunities for language classes, culture and media, and equipment. If Flandreau wanted to send students to Santee to learn for afternoon classes or whatever could be worked out when free time is available and Redwing will get them started.
Everett Weston, Tribal elder and committee member told of his experience with the Dakota Language: “My grandmother and father spoke Dakota, we lived here in Flandreau. Our people here spoke the language. I heard it all the time. But I didn’t learn to speak it fluently. Then my father was in the ministry and we moved around and lived among Lakota speakers out west. So I knew and heard the “L” language. But I never really grasped it. My little granddaughter is learning the Dakota language now and she told the other little kids the other day that “Grandpa wants coffee” when she heard me speaking. Children catch on right away and we need to teach the little ones so we preserve and keep our Dakota Language alive.”
Discussion was held on forming a language coalition with the Dakota Tribes; presently three Dakota Tribes are formed: Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe & Ft. Totten. Other discussions were on grants for DVD’s in Dakota, I-Pods, curriculums and CD’s, partnerships for Dakota Language Programs, teaching the teachers, classes. The main purpose for partnerships and Dakota Coalitions is to re-unite in an effort to save and preserve the Dakota Language.
Tribal President Joshua Weston closed the meeting stating: “The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe definitely wants to explore going into partnership with Santee. We are pleased at the community response to the Dakota Language classes taking place at Eastman Hall every week with Redwing. There are 38 to 40 tribal members attending the class weekly. We thank you for coming here today and for your support and help.”
Wyatt Thomas said the relationship will continue with both Tribes and they are willing to help us whenever they can and they will be in contact with the Dakota Language Preservation Committee. -Editor
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