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Oceti Sakowin School in Rapid City, SD

Indigenous-Centered, Indigenous-Led

Indigenous-Centered, Indigenous-Led

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.

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Art & The Greenhouse
Art & The Greenhouse
OSELC learners painting

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". 

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Language and Planting
Language & Planting
OSELC learners planting in the garden

The kids love learning the Lakota language, but digging into the dirt gives them the opportunity to thank Unci Maka for her blessings...

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Animal & Plant Friends
Animal & Plant Relatives Meet Unstructured Learning
OSELC learners watching a fox in the distance

For today’s Wicozani time, we took a nature walk. We observed our plant relatives, including cansasa (red willow) which is a sacred medicine...

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Elder educator instructing

Strong
Leaders

A good Lakota leader nurtures and guides everyone toward the vision, lays ego aside to understand the power of shared leadership.

Learners outside doing group project

Committed
Teachers

Our teachers, where possible, should be Lakota or Indigenous. They should have education and/or cultural experience.

Learner gardening with teacher

Indigenous Pedagogies

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 outside trying to fly their bird project

Indigenous Instruction

Learners show up with vast funds
of knowledge that should be reflected in their learning.

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