Delphine Red Shirt. Photo by Rich Luhr / Flickr
Lakolyapi, speak the Lakota language
By Delphine Red Shirt This is a tribute to the “Preservers of language honored” in the Native Sun News issue of June 3-9, 2015. They are the culture keepers, because Lakota culture cannot exist without the Lakota language, and they are some of the last speakers; unless, every adult reading this makes a conscious decision to learn and speak the language: Anpetu kin le taku eyuha waste ksto. Cin oyate kin eyuha tenirilapi (r is the gutteral h). Tanyan yaunpi he? Oyate wowiyukcan kin he Lakolyapi slolyapi kin he nicinca na insh nitakoja henna unspe wicakiyapi kin waste kte. Wanna conala yaunpi-unkunpi-Lakol woglakapi okihipi henna ecca wicawake. Toske econkunpi na wakanyeja henna unspe wicaunkiyapi kin waste kte. Cin Lakolyapi kin le teyarelapi (r is the gutteral h). Wanna bloketu canna sna wicota wiwanyang waci ahi. Henna eyuha slolyapi. Lakolya wacekiyapi na Lakolya wicounpi henna waste ca slolyapi na ahipi. Henna wico un kin unkitawapi. Inamitawa kin omakiyake, na “waanglakapi ye” e s'a. “Cin hena unkitawawapi.” He un Lakolyapi kin le nicicinca na insh nitakoja henna unspe wica kiyapi ye. Hecel tokata kiya oyate kin niksuyapi kte. This language we speak, the few speakers remaining, and I include myself among them, we must teach to our children, be they adult, and to our grandchildren; and to the lucky, great-grandchildren. Every summer, many people, many who are not Lakota, come to South Dakota, to participate in our most sacred Sundance. They know, they come, because they know it is a good way to live. The prayers and songs in our Lakota language are our strength. The elders and those who are sick know that when they come on the last day of the Sundance for a blessing. The Sundancer's prayers, on the fourth day are strong, especially when the body is weak on the fourth day. Their blessings sent from the inner circle of the Sundance, outward to the people, are powerful. In that most vulnerable moment for each dancer, weak in body, our leader, Wilmer Mesteth who will not be with us this year, told us to gather together, no matter how weak. To stand up, from the shade, and to dance for the people. He told us, on the day of the blessing, to come out to dance in the circle and to pray for the people. He would say, in English, “We need you.”
Lakota elders from the Porcupine District. As each preserver of the Lakota language came forward to accept their plaque and $100 from the College, historic photos were taken of them individually and as a group. Photo courtesy Oglala Lakota College
In Lakota there is no direct translation of those words, only a reference to “the people depend on you.” Today, these words work the same for these elders, for those who still speak the language, “we need you,” and in Lakota, we say wacinya, or wacinunyanpi “we depend on you.” When I was small, I thought the language would be around forever. It was the only language I heard at home. It was how every emotion, I felt was expressed in Lakota. My world view was in that language where every emotion and every action had its own reaction. I grew up a determined and stubborn Lakota child. I learned to be self-reliant because the adults around me expected me to. My own physical self was my own. No adult ever crossed that line in anger and I learned to value my own small body and to look out at the world through clear eyes. That was the way Lakota children were raised. Words were important. I still feel that way when I teach it. It feels like I awaken it by teaching others to speak it. It is sleeping, right now, that is how it feels. It is up to us to awaken it and we need the elders help. Our ways are strong, and they belong to us. Others try to appropriate it, to take it, to profit from it, but it isn't that easy to do. When I say it belongs to us, we are not excluding outsiders, only in that, we who speak the language are reminded of our responsibility to keep it alive, as keepers of the culture.
Lakota elders from the Medicine Root District. Photo courtesy Oglala Lakota College
Today, I speak two languages, one that I am still learning, and one that I was born into. I am lucky, to be able to speak two languages. But, the one that keeps me centered is the one that taught me a way to live. That is our culture. I understand now, what it means to be humble. It is a humbling way to maintain something as important as language and culture. It is an honor and a duty. It is only through its maintenance that we can hope to survive as a people. Through it we have survived to this new millennium. (Delphine Red Shirt can be reached at redshirtphd@gmail.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News Related Stories:
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