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Shakopee Tribe and Partnering Tribal Colleges to Launch Dakota Language Training Program

Prior Lake, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), along with four tribal colleges, today announced Voices of Our Ancestors, a Dakota language training program. In August 2017, the two-year program will begin in five participating Dakota communities in an effort to increase the number of Dakota speakers and teachers. The SMSC has committed nearly $2 million toward the program.

“We have very few Dakota speakers left who grew up speaking the language,” said SMSC Chairman Charles R. Vig. “Fortunately, the number of second-language fluent speakers is gradually increasing. They are the keys to preserving our language and teaching our next generation. This program will add much-needed Dakota speakers and teachers in several communities across the country.”

The Dakota language is one of the nation’s most endangered. Voices of Our Ancestors will train a total of 20 Native students across the five participating Dakota communities.

To fully immerse the trainees in the language, Voices of Our Ancestors will be held 40 hours per week over 24 months. The curriculum will cover Dakota language, culture and history. The program will also include educational opportunities for students to share their newly acquired language skills with their communities. All locations will have an open-door policy, allowing other tribal members and students to sit in on classes for free.

“Although each of our tribes is unique, we share the same desire to preserve our Dakota language,” said Andrew Vig, a member of the SMSC and coordinator of the program. “When you really understand the language, it changes the way you think and opens up a roadmap to our culture. This program is different because it gives these learners the time they need to fully immerse themselves in learning the language and gaining a deeper understanding of who we are as Dakota people.”

The four tribal colleges partnering with the SMSC include: the Cankdeska Cikana Community College in North Dakota, Fort Peck Community College in Montana, the Nebraska Indian Community College Santee campus, and the Sisseton Wahpeton College in South Dakota.

Each community has its own application guidelines for students and instructors.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top 10 philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to Native American tribes and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise, and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County.