Dakhódiapi Wahóȟpi | Dakota Language Nest

About

Dakhódiapi Wahóȟpi kiŋ ektá owás’iŋna yahípi kiŋ wašté. Dakhóta makhóče ed uŋthípi čha héuŋ iápi kiŋ de takómni uŋhdukínipi kte. Wahóȟpi ektá Dakhóta iápi kiŋ de theúŋȟiŋdapi k’a aŋpétu iyóhina uŋkíapi k’a uŋkúŋspepte. Wahóȟpi ektá thaŋkád uŋškátapi úŋkhaŋ thimáhed uŋškátapi, úŋkhaŋ zaníya waúŋtapi k’a wóyakapi uŋkúŋspepi k’a dená owás ečháuŋk’uŋpi ičhúŋhaŋ Dakhód uŋkíapte. Dakhód iápi kiŋ uŋhdúkinipi awáuŋčhiŋpi.

UMN sits on Dakota homelands and is home to many Očéthi Šakówiŋ people. The goal of the Dakota Language Nest is to breathe new life into the Dakota language, such that it lives on as the original language of Minnesota. In Dakota, it is said that šičéča kiŋ wakháŋpi, children are sacred. By returning their Dakota language to the children through play, outdoor exploration, art, and loving interactions, we allow the children of Minnesota to lead the way toward a bright Dakota future. Read more in Connect Magazine.

When families enroll a child in the Nest, they become part of our language community. Parents are asked to commit to our Thiwáhe ed Uŋkúŋspepi Family Education Program, which involves in-person activities once per week, and 3-4 hours of independent language learning activities. The language is returned to the children within the walls of the nest, but the goal is for them to have access to it, whenever they are in their home, with their siblings, and with their grandparents. Enrollment in the Nest is limited in order to optimize the ratio of adults to children. Dakota families and those who are part of the UMN community are given priority to enroll. It is our goal to enroll all families who are committed to language revitalization, regardless of financial resources. Please do not hesitate to apply; scholarships are available. 

Waúŋspewičhakhiyapi | Teachers

We are thrilled to introduce you to our experienced, knowledgeable, and gifted teaching team! In addition to these dedicated staff members, there may be Student Teachers in classrooms at different times, or they may observe activities from outside the room. Part of the goal of the Dakota Language Nest is to train future early childhood and language immersion teachers.

Eileen Bass, Assistant Teacher

Ómakha núŋpa heháŋyaŋ Dakhóta iápi uŋspémič’ičhiye čée. Nakúŋ, oyáte wóuŋspe k’a wašíču iápi kiŋ hená unspémič’ičhiye. Dakhódiapi Wahóȟpi kiŋ ed ȟtáwani. Sičéča kiŋ nína wakháŋ. Phidámayayapi.

Hello my relatives, my name is Eileen. My people are called Húŋkapha Lakȟóta and Mvskoke Creek and Sac & Fox. I am enrolled as Sac & Fox of Oklahoma. I live in Minneapolis. I have been living in Minneapolis on/off for 6 years. I study at the University of Minnesota. I have been learning Dakota language for around two years. Also, I study anthropology and English. I work at the Dakota Language Nest. The children are very sacred. Thank you all.

Wóokiye wiŋ | Katie Bendickson, Teacher

Wóokiye Wiŋ has taught pre-school and high school in Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Granite Falls as a Dakota Language instructor. Her mentor for the Dakota language was the respected elder Caroline Schommer of Upper Sioux Community. Currently Wóokiye Wiŋ is the lead teacher at the Dakhóta Iápi Wahóȟpi (Dakota Language Nest) and a free-lance artist. She is working on her first mural at CDLS. She blends her art and teaching Dakota language by illustrating Dakota language children’s books. She uses both her Dakota and Ojibway background to influence her designs in her art.

Much of her young life was spent on her mother’s reservation, Fond du Lac Reservation in northern Minnesota, before her family moved to her father’s reservation at Upper Sioux Community in southwest Minnesota. Wóokiye wiŋ lives in Saint Paul with her husband and children. Both her parents are artists and teachers ,and she continues that tradition. Follow her art on Instagram @wookiye_win and www.wookiyewin.com and purchase her books at Dakhota.org.

RickyMae Littlest Feather, Assistant Teacher

Alexa Yellow Hawk, Assistant Teacher

Owáyawa Thípi | Location

The Dakota Language Nest occupies a beautiful space within the newly purpose-built Child Development Laboratory School on the U of Minnesota campus, near Dinkytown, Bde Óta Othúŋwe (Minneapolis). The rooms are filled with natural light and natural materials, there is a dedicated art space, and naptimes involve a star projector to facilitate learning Dakota traditional star knowledge. At least half of each day is spent in our dedicated outdoor space, which includes gardens in planter boxes with traditional medicine plants, cedar trees, and an outdoor mud play kitchen. We also take regular trips to nearby parks, landmarks, and wooded areas.

Wóuŋspe | Curriculum

The curriculum is developed based on Dakota traditional lifeways, children’s interests, and the environment around us. Children learn through the Dakota language and through play and projects. Here are some of the ways we spend our day:

• Hípi ka Yútapi – Arrival & Meal
• Wóčekiye ka Azídya – Prayer & Smudging
• Dowáŋpi – Singing
• Iyékiyapi – Identifying in Nature
• Thaŋkád okábdaya škátapi – Outdoor free play
• Wóyakapi (naȟ’uŋpi) – Storytelling

Wóiwaŋǧa | Questions

Interested in learning more and scheduling a tour? Have questions? We’d love to hear from you.

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