Lakota Weekend aims to revitalize language
NewsCenter1 | October 6, 2019
RAPID CITY, S.D. – In Rapid City Saturday and Sunday, Lakota speakers were at the Holiday Inn to introduce the endangered language to newcomers for Lakota Language Weekend.
Nearly 60 people registered for the crash course, some local and some from as far away as Germany.
The courses covered basics like how to introduce oneself in Lakota and how to say common phrases. Afternoon discussions dove into verb conjugations.
Allen Wilson was instructing Saturday’s lesson. He’s a Lakota language instructor for Todd County Schools and has been teaching for six years.
He says this weekend is about revitalization and bridging the connection between elders and the current generation.
“Who’s going to be speaking Lakota in 20 years? In 30 years? In 40 years?” said Wilson. “Those are the things we’ve got to be thinking about espeially with the number dwindling. We have to step up our game as a generation we really need to get up there and take hold and we can’t just get by just knowing a few things.”
The event continued Sunday at 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
