While still abuzz with LSI classes and anticipation of President Obama’s visit on Friday, the Sitting Bull College campus is a bit quieter this week.

The MHA and Crow Nations have finished their first Summer Institutes, initiating language education and revitalization programs based on carefully planned K-12 curricula and proven second-language education methods.

The MHASI and CSI co-located with LSI at Sitting Bull to breathe in the atmosphere of dynamic, “can-do” enthusiasm for learning and teaching Native American languages.

The Crow and MHA Nations were formally welcomed and acknowledged in the Lakota Summer Institute opening ceremony last Monday, which established an atmosphere of respect and safety, as well as hope, energy and enthusiasm.

The MHASI will relocate to Fort Berthold Community College in Fort Berthold, ND next year.

Lakota teacher Albino Junior Garcia came to both MHASI and the Crow Summer Institute to coach Crow and MHA teachers in Total Physical Response and the use of flashcards with their Level 1 textbooks.  He has taught Special Projects and Teaching Lakota Methods at the Lakota Summer Institute since 2012 and taught Teaching Crow Level 1 in 2013.

Armik Mirzayan came over from the Lakota Summer Institute to teach Arikara Phonology at MHASI as well.