On Tuesday, October 27th, a group of eight people from Flandreau traveled to  Niobrara, Nebraska to observe the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska’s Dakota Language Immersion Class. The program is called “Isanti Dakota Ikceya Language Program”, sponsored by the Santee Dakota Nation in partnership with the Nebraska Indian Community College.
(Pictured to the right: Thelma Thomas)
The group from Flandreau that recently formed a planning committee for Dakota Language Preservation is: Jim Bill Ross, Everett Weston, Warlene Yellow Cloud, Vine Drapeau, Carol Robertson, JB Weston, Myrna Weston and Andrew Weston. The FSST Executive Committee would like the committee to explore grant funding, community support, resources, curriculum, etc. for a Dakota Language Preservation Program. The Flandreau group was able to observe and inquire about the success of the new program at Santee and their funding sources.
Wyatt Thomas made all the arrangements for Everett Weston, Andrew & JB Weston, Vine Drapeau, Brian Thin Elk, Kendra Burshiem, Renata Schroeppel and Carol Robertson to attend their “Immersion” Dakota Language class. The instructor is Redwing Thomas, a 26 year old member of the tribe at Santee and fluent in speaking Dakota,who reads and writes in Dakota. Thomas’ goal is to have the group converse in Dakota and out into the community and teaching the little  ones and youth to speak their language in its natural state. The concept of the Immersion Class is to close the door of the classroom and only Dakota is spoken during that time. In the three short weeks since this class has started, the group of nine introduced themselves in Dakota and are starting to converse and are recognizing sentences and making sentences. The class has to write down all the new words they learned and practice pronouncing what they learned when they do their “Journalism” of the Dakota words they learned that day. There are also classes held at night at for adults to attend if they are working or want to arrange their schedules to attend day or night classes.
(Pictured to the left: Redwing Thomas)
The Dakota Language Preservation program at Santee, Nebraska is working very hard at making this project community based, learning together, no last names are used and no politics enters into the classroom. The adults attending take the classes follow the admission process like a regular student but have a contract to help teach the language back into the community; tuition is waived by the college and Tribe if they successfully complete college semesters for Dakota Language 1 & 2. 
(Pictured to the right from L to R: Andrew Weston & Everette Weston)
Mary Johnson, Media Specialist, explained the education grants she has applied for and awarded to the Nebraska Indian Community College located at Santee. They also did a community survey before implementing the program. They were very generous and gave a copy to Flandreau to use as a template for a community survey. The Tribe there hosts an Elderly Meal Day with their elders every three months. The “Wisdom of the People” grant pays expenses and stipends for this event. The elders are interviewed and their stories are archived forever. This helps to gather history, pictures, family trees and records for archiving.
The Flandreau visitors were treated to lunch at Ohiya Casino. Misty Thomas was the luncheon speaker. Ms. Thomas is the director of Social Services and explained their Community Services program funded under the AmeriCorps grant. The grant is used to stipend youth for work hours and taking GED prep classes. The Youth are required to receive their GED for the year they are receiving a stipend for 1700 hours of commitment to the program.
Thelma Thomas, Manager of the Ohiya Casino, visited with Flandreau about their Cultural Preservation Program recently funded October 1st under the National Park Service’s grant. Thelma and some other ladies in the community volunteer to serve on the Volunteer Cemetery Board. They help keep up the cemetery and grounds. The Volunteer Board made it their mission to help with Historic Preservation and attended meeting with the Ponca and Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska. Due to the number of times Dakota remains have been found in their area that were identified as Dakota by the burial artifacts found, the volunteers wanted something done. The State of Nebraska funded two grants writers to write a Cultural Preservation grant for the Tribe and the grant was awarded.
Thelma gave the Flandreau visitors gifts from the Santee Tribe of candy bags and caps for the men with the Ohiya Casino logo, veterans caps were given to veterans Everett Weston and Vine Drapeau, and Indian designed purses for the three ladies.
This was a great day of sharing information, resources and knowledge.
Pictured below: Redwing Thomas
We visited a lot of relatives and friends while there. Our Santee Dakota Nation relatives are wonderful hosts!! Pidamaya! -Editor
(Pictured above: L to R: Everette Weston, Vine Drapeau, Wyatt Thomas, J.B. Weston)
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