Indigenous Minnesota: Dakota Language Preservation

This program was recorded on August 19th, 2021.

This series of presentatio​ns by Indigenous scholars focuses on the cultural heritage of Dakota, Ojibwe, Ho-Chunk, and other Indigenous peoples in Minnesota. Each presentation will offer an introduction to topics relevant to Indigenous peoples today, including language preservation, place name reclamation, treaties and sovereignty, arts, and more. The sessions will include a question and answer period with the audience.

Sisoka Duta, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, is a Dakota Language Teaching Specialist at the University of Minnesota. His undergraduate work focused on Dakota language, culture and history. Following graduation, he worked with two fluent Dakota/Lakota speakers for four years to improve his language skills. Prior to his current position, he taught Dakota language for three years at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

Sisoka Duta is a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton nation of South Dakota but was raised in the Twin Cities. He did not grow up speaking Dakota so he recognizes the need to acknowledge the first speakers of the language and to continue improving his own skills, so he can pass these on to his students. He sees himself as student of Dakota language and lifeways not a cultural or spiritual leader.

This series is hosted by Do Good Roseville, City of Shoreview Human Rights Commission and the Ramsey County Library. This program is funded in part by the MN Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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