The Lakota Language Project at Red Cloud Indian School: Turning the Tide of Native Language Loss

Abstract

Abstract:In response to the widespread loss of Lakota language and culture on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, Red Cloud Indian School developed the first comprehensive K-12 curriculum for learning Lakota as a second language. Created in collaboration with the American Indian Studies Research Institute (AISRI) at Indiana University, the Lakota Language Project (LLP) was first implemented during the 2008–2009 academic year and completed in 2014–2015. A new grant allowed the school to develop literary materials in Lakota and extend the use of Lakota throughout the school community. An evaluation of the LLP, utilizing a mixed methods design, began in the fall of 2010 and ended in summer of 2018. Key findings from the evaluation are that the LLP enhanced students’ interest in learning about Lakota history, culture, and spiritual practices; facilitated an increase in students’ proficiency in learning the language; and positively impacted both academic engagement and good behavior.