Cultivating Lakota
2015 – 2016
About The Program
The American Indian College Fund supported a Lakota language and culture revitalization program, Cultivating Lakota Early Childhood Learning Opportunities in 2015 to 2016. Partnering with Sitting Bull College, the program sought to develop a scope and sequence of a pre-K Lakota immersion language curriculum, improve family engagement strategies, create an early learning language immersion assessment system, and strengthen the knowledge and skill of Lakota immersion language teachers. Focusing on early learning contexts, this program envisioned to create a long-term, sustainable plan for Lakota language and culture revitalization.
Cultivating Lakota Early Childhood Learning Opportunities is guided by three main objectives:
- Development of Lakota language immersion curriculum, enriched by family engagement
- Development of Lakota language immersion assessment aligned with curricular lessons
- Provide opportunities for teachers to engage in targeted professional development in language learning and development
This funded project will have intentional benefits and sustained impact on the Lakhól’iyapi Wahóhpi families, children and teachers at Sitting Bull College and beyond.
Program Gallery
Grantees
Sitting Bull College
Related Blogs
For the Wisdom of the Children: Strengthening the Teacher of Color Pipeline
A child dips her feet in Wheatfields Lake on the Navajo Reservation at sunrise and wonders what lies beneath. A young boy walks through the forests of Menominee Nation, shaded by tall green trees, surrounded by the stories and history of this sacred environmental wonder.
Place-Based Learning as a Framework for Building Native Student Success
This is a collaborative series developed by the College Fund’s Environmental Sustainability, Native Arts and Early Childhood Education program initiatives. This is the first blog of a six-part series focused on place-based education.
Restorative Teachings — Ojibwe Language, a Visual Canvas
I have always been interested in art and design since I was a young girl in high school. In fact, I dreamed of my career being in the realm of interior design. Initially, it did not feel like I ended up in that realm, but experience and my perspective has changed throughout the years.
Expanding Culturally Relevant Knowledge through Early Childhood Conferences
Conferences can be a great place for early childhood educators, families, teachers in training, and researchers working with indigenous young children. They are a place to gather ideas and build professional development for use in the classroom.
