A Lakota-centered educational setting, provides Indigenous learners with a strong sense of identity, confidence, and ability to navigate any system they encounter…because they know who they are.
Creative expression is so important to our learners. Today, they used paints, pencil, and wood to express their creativity. The learners also learned why there is no word in Lakota for the English word "art".
The kids love learning the Lakota language, but digging into the dirt gives them the opportunity to thank Unci Maka for her blessings...
For today’s Wicozani time, we took a nature walk. We observed our plant relatives, including cansasa (red willow) which is a sacred medicine...
A good Lakota leader nurtures and guides everyone toward the vision, lays ego aside to understand the power of shared leadership.
Our teachers, where possible, should be Lakota or Indigenous. They should have education and/or cultural experience.
Lakota-centered schools cannot simply replicate the same pedagogical approaches found in traditional (dominant) K-12 institutions and sprinkle them with language and culture.
Learners show up with vast funds
of knowledge that should be reflected in their learning.
