Lakota elders from the Porcupine District. As each preserver of the Lakota language came forward to accept their plaque and $100 from the College, historic photos were taken of them individually and as a group. Photo courtesy Oglala Lakota College
Preservers of language honored
'Lakoliyapi Ki Glus Unpi'
By Ernestine Chasing Hawk
Native Sun News Editor KYLE –– In the corner of the world that protected them from the systemic destruction of their Lakota Language, 241 Lakota elders were honored on May 28, 2015. Never before has an event of this historic significance taken place with the patriarchs and matriarchs who preserved the Lakota language for the future generations of their Tiyospaye (family). Appreciating the value of these elders fluent in the Lakota language, Oglala Lakota College organized the historic event which took place on their Piya Wiconi Campus in Kyle. The event opened with a Lakota Flag song by the Porcupine singers followed by the opening prayer in Lakota by OLC Council of Elders member Mel Lone Hill. Newton Cummings President of the OLC board of Trustees told the honorees, “We all know that our Lakota language is dying out, so the tribal council voted to make preserving the language a number one priority.” He said that unless the Lakota language is spoken in the home, it will continue its downward decline and urged those present to continue speaking it to the younger generations. OLC President Thomas Shortbull then explained the sequence of events that took place that brought the idea of honoring the Lakota speaking elders to fruition. He said a council of elders including Joe American Horse, Mel Lone Hill, Lilly Mae Red Eagle, Mary Ann Red Cloud, Reverend Robert Two Bulls, Ruth Weston, Alice Young, among others advocated for more efforts in the preservation of the language.
Lakota elders from the Medicine Root District. Photo courtesy Oglala Lakota College
“Our children need to learn the language,” they urged. The elders told him that when they went to town, they were made fun of for speaking the language and in school they would have their mouths washed out with soap for the same reason. In response to their pleas, Oglala Lakota College opened a Lakota Immersion Head Start Program on their Piya Wiconi Campus Shortbull said. “You are the preservers of the language, you are the resisters and the strongest supporters of our language. We could have easily lost the language, but you preserved it for us,” he told the elders who traveled from every corner of the reservation to be honored. “One day it should be cool to speak the Lakota language.” Honorees were reminded that when they received their plaques and $100, to remember Mary Ann Red Cloud who advocated for this event, as she was in the hospital and could not be present to see it take place. The elders were treated to a traditional meal of wojapi, wigli ungagapi, taniga wahumpi, papa na timpsila wahumpi, before they were called to the stage to be honored for keeping the Lakota language alive. As each came forward, the Wakinyan Oyate (Thunder Beings) clamored outside and rain beat the roof, giving the event a spiritual feel. It was as if Wakinyan Oyate were also telling the preservers of the Lakota Language, “Pilamaya yelo.” Copyright permission Native Sun News
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