“What is the status of our language?”

This is best read while playing the song below so scroll to the bottom and press play then enjoy.

Often the question is asked, “What is the status of our language?”  Most of the time the question is asked by naive non-Indian allies, anthropologists, and educators but part of the time it is us - Lakota people asking each other this question.  Usually, I find myself  answering, “I am not too sure what you're asking?” Then the individual will explain that he/she is looking for how many fluent speakers are alive, what school or tribal program is doing language revitalization work, who has learned the language as a second language, or even what apps are available for use.  So, of course, I share what I know about what is happening amongst our people around language revitalization work. 

However, this morning, I spent some time thinking about this question during my morning meeting with the loo. “What is the status of our language?” I came to the thought that we can not discuss the status of our language until we can understand the status of our reservation.  There are deep-rooted systems in our communities across the reservation that are founded in white supremacy and these systems are openly accepted, praised, and honored.  

We cannot ask ourselves the status of our language until we first ask what the status of our reservation is.  We cannot fully understand the status of our language until we fully understand or at least acknowledge the current status of our entire reservation system. We are oppressed people.  We have suffered injustices continuously since the inception of our reservation.

Within the grand scheme of education on our reservation the narrative has always been that our language is a subject or course. From pre-school to college - this narrative is reinforced daily by our educational institutions.  Language is not a subject for our children.  Our narrative has to be radically reimagined and refocused to language is our education and education is our language. 

The biggest problem that we face in reclaiming our language is not just our fluent speakers passing away but our failure to understand the systemic oppression within our reservation educational systems.  What entities have the most influence over our most vulnerable population - our children? Schools.  There are schools that are rooted in white supremacy and settler-colonialism education (i.e. church schools and federal schools).  We have to ask ourselves - “How can we continue to support, praise, and accept these oppressive educational systems that were founded by entities that believed in totally wiping out our entire existence off of the face of the earth?” 

For example, let's take the church schools.  There is a movement across turtle island that is addressing the atrocities committed by the church boarding schools through the process of reconciliation and even reparation. Yes - let me say that again - there is a movement across turtle island that is addressing the rapes, murders, abuse, and crimes of the church through conversation and the occasional monetary gift or land back. 

Until we can truly acknowledge and participate in the honest and transparent discourse around the status of our reservation we can not fully ever answer - “what is the status of our language?” We blame ourselves when a fluent speaker passes on.  In doing so, we unwillingly and unknowingly continue to participate in our own demise.  It is not our fault that we suffer from the fallout of different policy eras that were designed and implemented to kill us. It is not our fault that we have to send our children to these schools.  It is not our fault that we live in the country's harshest living conditions.  It is our fault if we continue to remain complicit in the erasure of our language and lifeways.  It is our fault if we remain silent or stagnant while white supremacist systems run freely and openly within our homelands.

Next - it is not so much that we acknowledge the systems but we must advocate for change.  We must be the change we want to see (yes - I did put that generic quote there).  What are our schools - again the entities that have the most influence on our most vulnerable population within our reservation, doing to put status back into the language (pun intended). 

Lakota people - 

What can you do? First, be gentle and kind with yourself as you navigate reclaiming our language and lifeways.  The goal is not to become fluent as fast as possible but to heal, restore, and then sustain.  You are the walking and living prayer that our grandparents of long ago prayed for (Akhé - I used another epic generic quote).  Be confident and remember there are two kinds of Indians in Indian Country: those that are Lakota and those that want to be Lakota.

Finally,  please realize that our status of the language is never going to be what we want it to be until we can address systemic oppression (i.e. our schools).  To put status back into our language (Akhé ! Pun intended) means trusting and believing that our language and lifeways are our liberations. 

Non-Lakota people - aka allies, supporters, etc.

What can you do? First - check yourself.  You are not going to save our language.  You may help in any way possible but this process of liberation has to come from our people.  If you consider yourself an ally, be just that - an ally.  Never let your privilege interfere with our liberation because, to be honest, you’ll either get shunned or punched up.  

Ašʼápi