In 2012, the Lakȟól’iyapi Wahóȟpi preschool opened its doors to its first cohort of 3 years olds to receive 100% of their instruction in Lakota.

Housed at Sitting Bull College on the Standing Rock Sioux tribe reservation, the Lakȟól’iyapi Wahóȟpi immersion nest gives students the opportunity to be fully immersed in the Lakota language for 8 hours a day, 4 days a week. Lessons are mixed with best practices in early childhood education and traditional Lakota knowledge.

The Lakȟól’iyapi Wahóȟpi program, along with the schools parents, teachers and community members are currently looking finical support to help keep its doors open and expand the immersion school.

According to their http://www.gofundme.com/LakotaNest fundraising page:

“In the United States, only 165 out of more than 300 Native American languages are still spoken. The majority of these are on the brink of extinction. Seventy-four are almost extinct, with only a handful of elderly speakers. Fifty-eight have fewer than 1,000 speakers. Lakota falls in the top 5% of the surviving languages, as one of only 8 Native American languages with over 5,000 speakers. Lakota can and must be preserved.” – Understanding the Issue, Why Save Lakota? (Lakhota.org)

To support the efforts to revitalize the Lakota language and the Lakȟól’iyapi Wahóȟpi immersion nest, go to: http://www.gofundme.com/LakotaNest

Posted by: Matt Remle