The Cheyenne River Youth Project is still accepting reservations for the upcoming “Lakota Language Weekend” for adult and teen beginners at its Eagle Butte campus on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24-25. The nonprofit youth organization also has announced that the weekend event, priced at $40, will be available to students for a special rate of $20.
Held in conjunction with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Language & Culture Institute, LLW is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. It’s open to general public, including youth ages 15-18. By the end of the weekend, learners will be able to introduce themselves, talk about their relatives, build sentences about the world around them—and more.
“The weekend session is coming up quickly, but it’s not too late to reserve your space,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “Spots are limited to two classes of approximately 20 participants each, so we encourage those who wish to get started on their Lakota language journey to register as soon as possible.
“We’re also encouraging students ages 15-18 to sign up for the weekend with our $20 student rate,” she added. “This is going to be a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the connection they have with their Lakota culture through learning and using our language.”
According to Sunshine Carlow, director of the SRST Language & Culture Institute, instructors will teach Lakota through games, group exploration and speaking practice.
“It’s a safe, encouraging and effective way to learn,” she said. CRYP will provide coffee and snacks during the morning and afternoon sessions. It also will open its Keya (Turtle) Cafe so attendees can purchase specialty coffees, smoothies, breakfast and lunch.
The youth project’s partner in this endeavor, SRST Language & Culture Institute, is dedicated to the maintenance and revitalization of the Lakota and Dakota languages. It offers year-round language events for all levels of learners and fluent speakers, and it co-hosts the Lakota Summer Institute at Sitting Bull College. To reserve your space for Lakota Language Weekend on Feb. 24-25, and to learn more about the weekend’s activities, call 701-854-8587 or visit facebook.com/srstlci.
To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook (/LakotaYouth), Twitter (@LakotaYouth) and Instagram (@waniyetuwowapi).