Being Active Through Lakota Language

posted July 17, 2015


Grades 2nd through 8th learn basketball through Lakȟóta language immersion.


Lakȟótiya Škíŋčiyapi youth program

The summer can be a time of quiet reflection on Red Cloud Indian School’s campus with students on summer break. Yet the sounds of basketballs and sneakers can still be heard on the gym floor. This summer the Lakȟótiya Škíŋčiyapi (Being Active through Lakota Language) youth program, funded by a grant from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), is being hosted on the campuses of Red Cloud and Pine Ridge high schools. 

Matt Rama, former Red Cloud teacher and program director for the Lakota Language Immersion Childcare, is leading this initiative for the youth. “We received the ANA grant and since Pine Ridge is having an issue with suicide, [ANA] wanted to provide extra funding for programming that would be beneficial to young people and so that was how this was born.” Rama added, “It was designed to increase physical activity and improve self-identity on the Pine Ridge Reservation, an area that suffers from a high rate of obesity and diabetes, in addition to problems that accompany low self-esteem.”

The Lakȟótiya Škíŋčiyapi youth program started in June, collaborating with Red Cloud Indian School’s summer school program. “We worked with summer school doing Lakȟóta language and sports activities – soccer, basketball, football – and now that summer school is over we want to keep it going by working with the larger community”, Rama said. 

Program site director at the Red Cloud campus is alumnus James Knutson '12, who has been enjoying the experience. “I like it because it's free for the kids. I know a lot of parents are happy about that. It gives kids a jumpstart for learning the language at this age. Even if it's learning a few words it'll help them in both language and basketball skills.”

An important part of the program is involving high school students to help mentor elementary and middle school youth through athletics and health training. Several of these mentors are Red Cloud graduates and current high school students. Jake Danielson ‘15, who has been helping with basketball, loves that the kids are learning his favorite sport. “It's been wonderful. It's nice that these kids can come here and learn the game I've loved my whole life. It's important they keep their heritage and stay close to their roots and connecting it to basketball.”

Rama wants this program to provide a positive experience for high school students, forming them into positive leaders for the younger kids and the Pine Ridge community and, ultimately, enhancing their own lives in the process. 

Fortunately the learning doesn't stop on the court. In a few short weeks the Lakȟótiya Škíŋčiyapi youth program will begin integrating Lakota language with football workouts and continue on throughout the upcoming school year, partnering with the current after school program. 


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